The Werewolf Diet

It reads like the subject line of a piece of spam: Madonna and Demi Moore reportedly fans of the Werewolf Diet! But this lunar calendar-based eating plan is real—and gaining in popularity.
 
The premise is that the moon influences the water in our bodies in the same way it influences the tides of the ocean. There are two options, according to the website Moon Connection. The basic version involves a day of fasting during a full or new moon, in which case you drink only water and juice. This supposedly cleanses your body of toxins and can help you lose up to six pounds of water weight in one day. The extended version, meanwhile, starts with that day-long fast and continues with specific eating plans for each moon phase. (For example, during the waxing moon, you're supposed to eat less; during the waning moon, you're not supposed to eat after 6 p.m., when moonlight starts to become visible.)
 
Sounds…interesting. So we asked Keri Glassman, M.S., R.D., a member of Women's Health's advisory board and a judge on Cook Your Ass Off, for her take on the trend.
 
Glassman says the moon's phases do affect our bodies—but only to an extent. "I think it's something to be aware of: that everything in life is connected and that even the phases of the moon might affect our sleep and our hunger and our PMS cravings and emotional cravings," she says. That said, the effect isn't so great that you should actually rethink the way you eat during different times of the month. What's more, fasting isn't the smartest idea—it can set you up for binges—and the Werewolf Diet's claims that you can lose up to six pounds in a day simply aren't realistic, says Glassman.

You're better off sticking to a more regular healthy-eating plan, like this 1,500-calorie day designed by Glassman. 

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