Seven Of The Dumbest Diet Trends In History

Published September 4, 2012
Updated June 17, 2019

Breatharianism

An idea this wonky could only come from the 80s. While most weight loss programs suggest removing high-calorie or fat-laden foods from one’s diet, breatharianism demands that everything–yes, everything–be banished from it. Breatharians believe that people, much like house plants, can be nourished by light alone, and that once an individual has achieved true harmony and peace said person will no longer require food, water or sleep.

In order to ‘prove’ the diet’s merit to American TV show 60 Minutes, an Australian woman tested breatharianism for herself. Unsurprisingly, the test was called off after four days when the woman’s speech slowed, her pupils began to dilate and she suffered from severe dehydration.

Dumbest Diet Trends: The Cotton Ball Diet

Cotton Ball Diet

Source: Blogspot

And you thought rice cakes were bland. There are no surprises within this diet; people literally consume only cotton balls for extended periods of time. Low in calories and high in fiber (though the kind of fiber you don’t need), advocates of the cotton ball diet claim that feasting on these white fibrous balls will fill you up to the point that fatty foods seem wholly unappealing. Fret not; if you tire of raw cotton balls, it’s kosher to dip them in gelatin prior to munching away.

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.