There's no 'magic' mushroom diet: The M Plan - said to be the slimming secret of Kelly Osbourne and Katy Perry - does NOT work, say experts

Diet promises to help women lose weight from tummy but maintain bust
Replace one meal with a mushroom inspired dish for 14 days
Experts say replacing meal with any vegetable would help weight loss
Also says selective weight loss doesn't match up to science

PUBLISHED: 10:26 EST, 9 September 2013 | UPDATED: 10:26 EST, 9 September 2013

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It is the diet said to be loved by the likes of Kelly Osbourne and Katy Perry and has been touted as an effective way to shed pounds quickly without losing curves.

Dubbed the ‘M-Plan’, the mushroom diet promised to help women lose weight from their stomachs, bottoms, thighs and upper arms, but still keep their bust intact.

However, experts say that there's nothing magical about mushrooms at all and the diet's efficacy has been exaggerated.

Too good to be true? While Katy Perry and Kelly Osbourne swear by the mushroom diet plan, experts say that replacing any meal with a vegetable would aid weight loss

Kelly Osbourne follows the M-plan but experts say that its promises of helping dieters lose tummy weight and maintain their bust is unfounded

Too good to be true? While Katy Perry and Kelly Osbourne are said to swear by the mushroom diet plan, experts say that replacing any meal with a vegetable would aid weight loss

The diet promises to help women lose weight from the stubborn areas over a 14-day period by replacing just one regular lunchtime snack or dinner with a mushroom dish.

Indeed, women’s nutritionist and health broadcaster Jeannette Jackson says that the mushroom diet, just like the fungi itself, means you keep the weight where you want it up top and shed pounds where you don’t down below.

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However, Katherine Tallmadge, a registered dietitian, and op-ed contributor to LiveScience, told the site that there is nothing special about mushrooms - and replacing one meal a day with any vegetable would help a person lose weight.

Katherine argues that the diet's claims of selective weight loss doesn't match up.

Not so magic mushrooms: Whilst mushrooms are extremely rich in protein and low in calories, experts say they can't help women lose weight everywhere but their bust

'There's no evidence that any diet will help you lose weight in a particular spot,' she said.

Jeannette Jackson argues the positive effects of mushroom, saying: 'If we eat more mushrooms, it’s likely that less high calorie foods will be consumed throughout the day overall because of the vegetable’s powerful nutritional values.

'The dietary fibre in mushrooms helps promote good bowel function leaving you feeling more satisfied, so you won’t be hungry again as quickly, preventing you from snacking.

'Mushrooms are also extremely rich in protein – an ideal nutritional food source yet the vegetable is low in calories which is important where weight loss is considered.'

Lucy Wyndham-Read, USA Pro fitness and nutrition expert, weighs in to say that while mushrooms are nutritious, there is no way they could assist with site-specific weight loss.

She says: 'There is no denying that mushrooms are a powerhouse of nutritional benefits and one of their greatest assets is that they are super Low GI.

'Plus, the fact that they are so very low in calories means, as part of a diet, they can help in weight loss. Plus mushrooms are super cheap, so this is a way to save pounds and drop the pounds.

'But it's untrue that mushrooms have the power to lose fat from everywhere except the bust.

'I advise women not to expect this to happen. It's also worth remembering that too much of a good thing is actually never a good thing.

'The fact is, if we eat a healthy, well-balanced, clean, natural diet and exercise regularly, we can all lose weight.'

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For God sake! Eat sensibly and exercise women! Stop thinking there's some miracle diet and just get moving.

- Caroline , England, 10/9/2013 04:14

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Good Good .. so when is Kelly going to go on the diet?

- Guest , OC, 10/9/2013 03:26

Click to rate Rating 1

Like anyone is taking dieting advice from people that wear 20 pounds of makeup, have fake, unnatural hair colors, fake hair, teeth, eyelashes, etc., tattoos AND that have professional nutritionists and fitness trainers at their immediate disposal.

- jennifer520 , Duluth, 10/9/2013 03:12

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Who needs experts - just take a look at her.

- me , home, 10/9/2013 01:43

Click to rate Rating 1

Don't need experts to tell us that - one look at KO makes it quite clear.

- me , home, 10/9/2013 01:34

Click to rate Rating 2

Kelly has thighs/legs like tree trunks. Not something I would aspire toward.

- Sarah the nurse , Iowa USA, 09/9/2013 22:34

Click to rate Rating 4

Or lipo & implants...

- ktmac , Portsmouth, Hants, 09/9/2013 22:17

Click to rate Rating 19

omg so sick of these miracle diets/workouts there isn't one the only reason those models, actresses, singers lose so much weight is because they don't eat end of

- lillymae , PlanetOrganic, 09/9/2013 20:46

Click to rate Rating 52

Lipo helped Kelly Osborne, too.

- jwild , The Shire, United States, 09/9/2013 20:26

Click to rate Rating 61

Did anyone REALLY believe it would work? Are people that stupid? Fad diets do not work long time.

- jac163 , Tampa, United States, 09/9/2013 20:25

Click to rate Rating 33

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