Why the Hot Sauce Diet Should Burn in Hell
81The Book
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The Hot Sauce Diet: A journey of behavior modification
Price: $5.97
List Price: $10.95 |
The Equipment
The Background
According to the official site, "The Hot Sauce Diet was created and successfully self-implemented by a physician. This behavioral modification approach is described with honest simplicity and an injection of humor."
But Dr. Spiro Antoniades is not a nutritionist. He is not a behavioral scientist. He is not even a family physician. Dr. Spiro Antoniades is an orthopedic spine surgeon in Baltimore, Maryland.
What, then, makes this man qualified to give the rest of us diet advice? He lost 70 lbs in 11 months with no equipment other than a bottle of hot sauce... and apparently, that makes him an expert.
The Plan
Along with an hour of exercise a day, Dr. Antoniades recommends a shot of hot sauce before every meal, and as needed to curb cravings. He claims the benefits of hot sauce in a diet program are three-fold:
- The active ingredient, capsaicin, is an appetite suppressant.
- Hot sauce will make you drink more water.
- The principles of averse conditioning will make your desire for food less, as you begin to associate eating with pain.
Teens Taking Hot Sauce Shots... Viewer Discretion Advised
The Problems
Right away, one can see several issues with this plan. Water does nothing to cut through the burn of spicy foods, as any curry- or chili-lover knows. Milk, bread, and rice are effective cures, and these foods all have calories.
Another issue is the actual act of downing the hot sauce itself. It seems more like a "Jackass" stunt than a long-term solution to weight management. A common reaction to a shot of hot sauce, as many an amature filmmaker on YouTube has discovered, is projectile vomitting.
Perhaps most concerning, however, is the effect such a disordered approach to eating has on the dieter's psychological health. Successful diet programs like French Women Don't Get Fat emphasize taking pleasure in eating, rather than surrounding meals with stress and anxiety, which only leads to more weight gain. Self-deprivation and punishment around food lead to eating disorders and depression, and I don't think Dr. Antoniades is prepared to take responsibility for that.
In fact, in an interview with the Hot Sauce Blog, Dr. Antoniades states that "Other than weight loss, I know of no known long term adverse effects." I'd respond that that's just the point; this man is in no way qualified to talk about weight loss or behavioral conditioning. He quite literally has no idea what he's messing with, namely: your physical and emotional health. Don't risk it.
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Comments
Dear Ms. Ruud,
I enjoyed reading your review on The Hot Sauce Diet. I appreciate the passionate response you demonstrate on the subject of dieting.
The two of us have many differences. You are a young woman who resides on the west coast studying psychology and I am a middle-aged east-coast surgeon. I think you will be surprised that we have more in common than you would think. We both have suffered from personal struggles with an eating disorder and we both are passionate about our beliefs.
The Hot Sauce Diet is my creation. The idea of someone wishing it (or any book) burned, especially in a place as inhospitable as hell itself, disturbs me.
I appeal to your sense of social justice in asking if you would be interested in reading the Hot Sauce Diet for yourself. It’s more than a media moment. I would be happy to send it to you free of charge.
Sincerely,
Spiro Antoniades
Doctor Antoniades:
I apologize that the title of my article disturbed you. I meant it merely as an eye-catching play on words, not as a literally indictment. I am a strong advocate of free speech, but I also advise my readers to be wary of "quick fixes" or "diets" which are harmful to their mental or physical well-being.
Negative reinforcement can very damaging to psychological health, especially around a subject as charged as food and/or weight loss. I point out that you have no firm evidence of the efficacy of this diet besides your own personal experience, and that the implications on the psyche are vast and unstudied.
However, I am very willing to take you up on your offer, and read the book for myself, at which time I will write a follow-up: an in-depth book review, rather than simply an examination of the principals, as you have laid them out in the public media. I'd be happy to discuss this with you further. Please contact me through my profile page if you'd like to follow through with this.
Best,
Maddie
Maddie,
Thank you for your comments. I found your forum while searching for some information on Wu-Yi tea. Your thoughts were both well articulated and informative.
I went on to check out some of your other links, out of curiosity, and found particular interest in this review of the "Hot Sauce Diet".
While I found your thoughts humorous, and again articulate, I found myself in disagreement. While I haven't read the book mentioned, I am a lover of hot sauce. (Not particularly Tobasco) Now, please don't misunderstand, I'm not just writing in defense of hot sauce lovers, (though obviously I'm biased) but rather want to share an observation I have made.
A few years ago, I decided I was consuming too much hot sauce, and thought "This can't be good for me." So I stopped. Within two months I had gained almost 20 pounds. When I resumed using hot sauce (mostly because I missed it) the weight dropped back off. Now, I thought it was coincidence, and maybe still is, but I had the same experience a year or two after that. (Only that time it was because I overdid it at a Thai restaurant and for a while became sick every time I had hot sauce. Oops!)
Unlike some of the people you described, I can eat a tablespoon of Tobasco, and though it would be a bit sour, not experience any projectile vomiting or even a strong need to consume profuse amounts of water. (Yes I have done it on a dare from friends. They were sadly disappointed at the results.) So there's no "negative" reinforcement or stress conditioning. In fact it INCREASES my pleasure at meals.
I've wondered if spicy foods increse the metabolism, somewhat like green tea, or just move things out of the body faster. (No "cleansers" neaded here, if you know what I mean.) But recently I've thought it might just be the ability to eat simpler more "plain" food. If you love hot sauce, a "plain" grilled chicken breast is just as tasty as a breaded and fried chicken breast with butter and olive oil... Well, ok, maybe not, but you get the idea.
So, all this to say... I know I'm just one person, and surely don't represent a case study, but don't knock the hot sauce until you've tried it. Now if I had just thought of the stupid book idea first... Darn!
Congratulations, Dr. Antoniades. As a hot sauce lover, I wish you luck, though I agree you've still just created another goofy fad diet. Eating less, and working more is the ONLY way to really lose weight and stay healthy.
Thanks again, Maddie, and keep up the fun posts!
- Eric
Eric:
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. I'm extremely interested in your "case study," since I hadn't thought about the implications of someone having a high tolerance for spice... interesting.
I, personally, have nothing against hot sauce. I always have a bottle of sriracha handy... I merely meant to point out the lack of qualifications that Dr. Antoniades has in this area, as well as the unexamined ramifications on mental health. Negative reinforcement is a very dangerous thing to play with.
I appreciate the response, Eric. And thanks for reading!
Best,
Maddie
What I didn't get is how one could review this book without reading it. It becomes apparent that the book was reviewed here before it was actually read as the comments illustrate. Also noticed that while the good doc doesn't have much to support his theory, just his own experience, that the writer doesn't have anything to refute it except some random youtube video. Thats what disturbs ME. The writer doesn't like the IDEA of the book and sells this opinion to the reader and the potential reader of the book. Anyways, this was 7 months ago, hatchet burried I suppose.
"7 Months Later:"
I did not, in fact, review the book. I reviewed the diet, not based on YouTube videos (which I simply used to illustrate my point) but based on my knowledge and study in the areas of health, weight loss, and psychology.
And I see things differently: Dr Antoniades is the one "selling" something. I merely mean to call him on it.
Thanks for reading.
Maddie
I love hot sauce and it takes a lot to satisfy my need for spice. But, I know my limits. I know how spicy sauce can really tear up your stomach. I sincerely hope anyone who tries this "diet", doesn't end up with ulcers or something of the like.
Hey Maddie,
Thanks for sticking up for the rest of us. It's great you're doing the level of research that you are doing. Saves us a bunch of time. One thing I've learned, when people start to question what you are doing, then you are very likely to be on to something.! I've enjoyed your writings. Kudo's
I enjoyed the reading of the Hot Sauce Diet.. as well as the colon cleanser products review.
I have found this page while searching on colon cleansing as I have been experiencing some lower stomach pains (colon). Some believe that my pain might be brought on by the amount of Hot food I eat, but as I noticed the spicy food does not bring on any pain and seems not to have anything to do with my problem as removing the hot sauce from my diet has no effect.
I would like to mention though that I crave hot sauce and it actually makes me feel good when I eat something spicey.. and like Erick mentioned the simplest food becomes the most enjoyable with some hot sauce and also keeps things regular if you know what I mean..
I have wondered my self what effects hot sauce (spicy food) could have on metabolism, and general physical and mental health. I cant support Ericks statement on hot sauce helping with weight gain but at the same time I have been off work for last 4 years due to a major car accident and did not seem to gain that much weight even with very low physicall activity and the fact that I quit smoking..
I have read in a health magazine which name I can not recall that the chilly peppers contain something that has an effect on the brain and affects the mood of an individual when consumed. Don't quote me on this but in my personal experience I feel great after eating something spicy.. maybe it's just me..
I think a study on Hot Sauce and spicy food would be very interesting. As a Hot Sauce lover I would be very interested.. And after looking into colon cleansers I think the only one I need is my Hot Sauce..
As for the different Hot Sauces there is so many that searching for new ones has almost became a hobby...
Mirek
The water portion of this diet (I'd never heard of it until now) is meant to not quell the spicy flavour of the food but simply to provide hydration--the body reacts to spicy food the way it does to getting hot--it sweats to cool us down and thus we get thirsty. Mind you, I don't think anyone will be chugging hot sauce...spicy foods do help poke the metabolism up a little bit. But like all other "fixes" use it in combination with other good things.
Hi Maddie;
HAving studied weight-loss theories for years on my own, I am enjoying reading your reviews of various "diets". As for the hot sauce issue.......
It has been proven in some medical studies that a small amount of hot sauce can help increase the metabolism, if used regularly. But everything I have read streses "small amounts", not taking shots.
I applaud you pointing out the flaws in this "diet". It scares me to see how so many young people, obsesed with their looks grab the fastest and easiest sounding fad diet and run with it. A bit of research and common sense goes a long way after all.
Drinking 5-7 glasses of water a day, walking for 20-30 minutes a day, and eating healthy can reduce your weight faster, with longer lasting results, than any of these fads.
I just wish more people would try to take responsibility for their own lives and smarten up. I lost 50 pounds, and have kept it off for three years just by being sensible.
Over here in Asia, taking chillies is very much a huge part of our diet, but yet obesity still happens. I doubt spicy or hot sauces helps. You're right on point!
I think the hot sauce diet is great. Its not for a meal replacement as you make it sound. Its just to curb those snack attacks between meals. And downing hot sauce is not that hard, and the water does help, you may have to drink more but thats the point. More water, less soda and other junk. I have been doing this for a while now and have seen great results. Although, this doctor did not come up with it, I have heard about this since I was little from older realitives. And have tried it before. I recomend eating all your daily meals in considerable portions and just using this to supress snack cravings, but also needs daily exercise, I work out with resistance bands for only about 10 to 15 minutes a day. And have seen great results in a matter of weeks. The proof is in the pudding. The doctor isn't talking about weight loss, he is just simply saying we he used, and what works. And from the pictures, it does.
Hi Well I've tried, grow, eat all the Mc Ilhenny products my favourite is Tabosco Habanero sauce and I figure out that it is a usefull remedy for many sicknesses. It helps for flue, headache, libido, weight loss and many more. But it must be used with care, because to many spices could give you ulchers even if a little bit of Tabasco did help my friend to get relief from his ulchers.
Thanks for the article Maddie.
As someone who grew up in a country where everybody eats chillies (not hot sauce, but real hot chilli pepper, crushed, mixed with any food, eveb fruits) for the pleasure of eating, I find this hot sauce diet funny. It wouldn't sell in my country, because everybody's already doing it, and the taste of chilli gives them more appettite. Even McDonalds gives sachets of chilli sauce with ketchup in my country. And why should we associate eating with pain ? Very weird diet idea, I would say.
Love your heading!
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spacebull says:
2 years ago
This is very useful for people who want to lose weight, thanks.