A diet backed by Beyoncé “could be dangerous”, experts have warned, after the singer posted a video praising the plan for helping her lose weight after giving birth.
The vegan plan, called 22 Days Nutrition, was created by Beyoncé’s trainer Marco Borges, with Queen B and Jay Z splashed all over the marketing.
The plan is customisable with various options available, but customers are able to select a version of the plan called “Beyoncé’s Kitchen”, which Beyoncé apparently used ahead of her 2018 Coachella performance.
There are few details available about the provided recipes until you sign up, which costs $14 (£11.50) per month or $99 (£81) per year. But the website insists the diet isn’t about calorie counting.
“One of our goals at 22 Days Nutrition is to get you out of the mindset of calorie counting and into the mindset of ‘what is healthy for me?’” the website says.
However, the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine has told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme the plan provides just 1,400 calories, while the NHS recommends men consume 2,500 calories per day and women 2,000.
“This is quite low for anyone, users will feel tired and exhausted particularly when adding in the exercise,” spokesperson Daniel O’Shaughnessy said. “It could be dangerous for the average person to follow without a team of nutritionists and trainers like Beyoncé has.”
In the promotional video she recently posted, Beyoncé revealed she followed the 22-day plan for 44 days ahead of Coachella.
Speaking about her pre-festival diet in her Netflix documentary Homecoming, she added: “I’m limiting myself to no bread, no carbs, no sugar, no dairy, no meat, no fish, no alcohol. And I’m hungry.”
O’Shaughnessy raised concerns about potential “nutritional deficiencies” when following such a strict, plant-based diet, saying anyone following a vegan diet should consider alternative sources of vitamin B12, iron and protein.
“Beyoncé is selling a dream. This is worrying as she has a number of teenage followers who are easily susceptible,” he said.
In a statement, Borges, told the BBC that Beyoncé used a combination of a whole food plant-based diet and daily exercise as part of her Coachella preparation.
“She achieved her goals successfully and was able to show up and give 100% for a performance which required nothing less,” he said.
“She continues to be mindful of the importance of proper nutrition and exercise as part of a healthy and happy lifestyle. We applaud her and are humbled by her courage to share her journey with others.”
HuffPost UK has also contacted Marco Borges and Beyoncé’s representatives in response to the criticism.