Printed by the world-famous publication in 1977, this has to be one of the worst fad diets in history.
First published in 1962 in Sex and the Single Girl: The Unmarried Woman’s Guide to Men (a New York Times best seller), the notorious ‘Wine and Eggs’ diet claimed to help you shift 2.5 kilos (five pounds) in just a few days.
In 1977, it was published in the Vogue Body and Beauty Book and today it pops up from time to time on social media with a photo of the Vogue page used as a modern meme.
Intended to be followed for just three days, it was the epitome of a crash diet — helping you lose weight quickly with methods so unsustainable you’ll likely put the weight straight back on.
What is the Wine and Eggs diet?
High in protein, not only is the diet extremely restrictive and entirely lacking in fruit or vegetables, but it’s made even more bizarre by allowing an entire bottle of wine a day, preferably Chablis (I guess that’s your carbs?). Here’s what it entails…
Breakfast: 1 hard-boiled egg, one black coffee and one glass of dry white wine.
Lunch: 2 eggs (hard-boiled or poached), one black coffee and two glasses of white wine.
Dinner: Five ounces (150 grams) of steak grilled with black pepper and lemon juice, another black coffee and the rest of the wine.
What do the experts think of this crash diet?
“Although eggs and steak do offer some nutritional benefits this diet is definitely not balanced and is not something that anyone should be following,” warns nutritionist Michaella Mazzoni. “There’s basically no fibre which is essential for heart health, gut health, sex hormone function and immune health.
“The high levels of cholesterol from the daily steak isn’t good for heart health and high in saturated fats. It’s also lacking in micronutrients like magnesium, vitamin C, folate, vitamin A (and more) as well as macros like carbohydrates.”
Kyle Crowley, a nutrition expert at Protein Works, agrees: “The wine and egg diet is fundamentally flawed because it lacks variety and balance, which are essential components of any healthy eating plan. A diet that encourages such restrictive eating patterns can be damaging both physically and mentally.
He adds: “The diet’s encouragement of daily wine intake also raises concerns about the potential for alcohol dependency and the negative impact of alcohol on liver function, digestion, and overall wellbeing.”
Are there any health benefits to the Wine and Eggs diet?
While eggs are fairly healthy, offering protein, fats and amino acids, Michaella says, “It’s possible to have too much of a good thing” and warns we shouldn’t be eating that many eggs a day.
And while steaks are a great source of iron, she warns: “A steak every night is probably not great for the heart due to the high cholesterol levels and high saturated fats found in steak.”
So why is it that such a nutritionally deficit diet was so popular? Kyle explains: “The mid-20th century was a time when diet trends were often driven more by sensationalism than by solid nutritional science. Back then, there was a lack of widespread knowledge about balanced nutrition, and people were more susceptible to extreme, gimmicky diets that promised quick results.
“Today, we have a much better understanding of nutrition, so it’s crucial to approach these older diet trends with caution. They often lack the essential nutrients needed for overall wellbeing and can lead to serious health issues if followed strictly.”
