When it comes to dieting, Hollywood celebrities will try almost anything to drop a few pounds, all the while raving about how their new parsley and pimento diet has helped them fit into that red carpet dress. The question is: Do these diets really work, are they safe and are they achievable for the common person?

Mariah Carey: Purple food diet
When Mariah Carey found out that purple foods (eggplant, plums, beets) contained powerful antioxidants that help reduce the formation of wrinkles, she announced to the world that she was going on a strict purple food diet and began eating only purple meals three days a week. 

"While resveratrol, the purple pigment, is touted as the best anti-aging antioxidant, eating only purple foods is hard to do," says Charlene Chen, a registered dietitian in Vancouver. "It would be best to emphasize dark green, dark orange and dark purple fruits and vegetables to get as many vitamins and antioxidants as possible, but the best way to prevent wrinkles is by wearing sunscreen, sleeping a full eight hours a night, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and good stress management."

Verdict: Safe, but unnecessary.

Beyoncé: The Master Cleanse
For her role in the Oscar-nominated film Dreamgirls, Beyoncé lost 20 pounds on The Master Cleanse. The cleanse, which was not originally meant for weight loss but rather the treatment of ulcers, is a non-food diet where the participant drinks a concoction of fresh lime or lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper mixed with water six to 12 times a day, along with an herbal laxative tea taken twice a day.

"Though lemons have vitamins and minerals, which are useful to the body's metabolism, the body needs a daily intake of protein, carbohydrates, and fat," says Chen. "This is a starvation diet that will force the dieter to lose muscle mass and gain back all the weight once the diet is over."

Verdict: Unsafe

Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow: Macrobiotic diet
Straying from traditional diets, celebs like Madonna and Gwyneth stay slim following a strict macrobiotic diet, which is a fish and plant based diet centered on Japanese cooking principles.

"Although it takes more effort in planning to ensure one gets sufficient nutrients," claims Chen, "it is a safe diet that emphasizes grains as a staple, less refined foods, local ingredients and fewer animal products."

Verdict: Safe and nutritious.

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