The Shangri-La Diet
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{{Infobox Book
| name = The Shangri-La Diet: The No Hunger Eat Anything Weight Loss Plan
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = Need picture
| image_caption =
| author = [[Seth Roberts]]
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = [[United States]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| series =
| subject = [[Dieting]]
| genre = Non-fiction
| publisher = Perigee Books
| release_date = April 2006
| english_release_date =
| media_type =
| pages = 203 pp
| isbn = ISBN 9780399533167
| oclc =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}
'''''The Shangri-La Diet: The No Hunger Eat Anything Weight Loss Plan''''' is the first book by [[Seth Roberts]], a [[professor emeritus]] of [[psychology]] at [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]].<ref name=about>[http://sethroberts.net/about/index.html About the Author] on SethRoberts.net</ref> The book outlines a method of natural [[appetite]] suppression which can lead to substantial [[weight loss]].
==Inspiration==
As a [[graduate school|graduate student]], Roberts studied [[animal cognition|animal learning]], specifically "rat psychology".<ref name=dietchannel>[http://www.thedietchannel.com/Shangri-La-Diet-Interview-with-Dr-Seth-Roberts.htm Interview with Author Dr. Seth Roberts] The Diet Channel</ref> As a psychology professor, Roberts read a report by Israel Ramirez that studied the stimulation and growth in [[rats]] due to [[saccharine]].<ref name=ramirez>Ramirez, Israel [http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/reprint/120/1/123 Stimulation of Energy Intake and Growth by Saccharine in Rats] September 25, 1989.</ref> Based on this research, he developed new weight control theories – eating foods with a low [[glycemic index]] and eating [[sushi]] – on which he lost twenty pounds.
In 2000, Roberts traveled to [[Paris]]. He noticed a loss of appetite, and connected this with drinking sugar-sweetened soda, a food he did not consume at home.<ref name=freakonomicsParis>[http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2005/09/16/seth-roberts-guest-blogger-finale/ The Elephant Speaks] "It’s true, in the grand scientific tradition, that my discovery of sugar water’s useful effects began with an accident (in Paris)."</ref> He saw a relationship between unfamiliar tastes and loss of appetite, and expanded his weight-loss theory, which led to the Shangri-La Diet.<ref name=paris>[http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2006/06/27/a-little-bit-of-paris/ A Little Bit of Paris] "It reminded me of being unable to eat in Paris, which led to my discovery of the SLD."</ref>
==Book summary==
The book features short anecdotes from followers of the diet who had heard of it through Seth's blog or ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name=book/> Roberts' diet is based on the fundamental principle of a set point – the weight which your body "wants to be". When actual weight is below the set point, appetite increases; when actual weight is above the set point, appetite decreases. Furthermore, eating certain foods can raise or lower the set point. Foods that have a strong flavor-calorie relationship (such as [[fast food]] or [[donuts]]) can raise the set point, whereas bland foods which are slowly digested (like extra light olive oil or [[fructose]] mixed with water) can lower the set point. Roberts states that the diet is based upon connecting two unconnected fields: weight control and associative learning. Because of this, the research behind the diet is from multiple fields, ranging from [[Classical conditioning|Pavlovian psychology]] to [[physiology]] to rat psychology.<ref name=sethResearch>[http://sethroberts.net/science/index.html Science behind the diet] on SethRoberts.net</ref><ref name=ramirez/><ref name=scalfini>Sclafani et al[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T0P-4GHBPHJ-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=1fe4b5e592d73f318736bccef8994f99 Flavor Conditioning as a Function of Fat Source] on ScienceDirect.net</ref><ref name=cabanec>Cabanec, Michel [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T0P-45XTDWY-3&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=4231a0644b15e52dcd0a1a52c820f777 Evidence that transient nicotine lowers the body weight set point] on ScienceDaily</ref>
The diet itself consists of taking two to four tablespoons of extra-light olive oil per day, either all at once or spanned throughout the day. This must be consumed in a flavorless window, which is at least one hour after flavors have been consumed, and at least one hour before flavors are consumed.<ref name=book>{{cite book
| last= Roberts
| first= Seth
| title= The Shangri-La Diet: The No Hunger Eat Anything Weight-Loss Plan
| publisher= Perigee Trade
|date= April 24, 2007 – note, can't find original publishing date
| isbn= 0399533168}}</ref> The consumption of these flavorless calories lowers the set point, and therefore, lowers weight.
==Success and reception==
Through word of mouth, the book became a ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' [[bestseller]]<ref>[http://www.sethroberts.net/images/2006-05-21_nyt_bestseller.pdf] May 21st, 2006. New York Times Bestseller list.</ref> and reached #2 on [[Amazon.com]]'s bestseller list.<ref>[http://calorielab.com/news/2006/05/10/shangri-la-de-da-diet-in-comic-form/ Shangri La De Da Diet in Comic Form] Calorie Lab. May 2006</ref>
The Shangri-La Diet was featured on ''[[Good Morning America]]'', on which journalist [[Diane Sawyer]] tried a tablespoon of olive oil.<ref name=goodmorn>{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = Oil and Water: Key to Weight Loss?
| publisher = ABC
| date = November 14, 2005
| url = http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/BeautySecrets/story?id=1310260
| accessdate = 2008-06-26}}</ref><ref name=freak>{{cite news
| last =Dubner
| first = Stephen
| title = The Shangri-La Diet, Between Hard Covers
| publisher = Freakonomics Blog, New York Times
| date = November 14, 2005| url = http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/04/20/the-shangri-la-diet-between-hard-covers/
| accessdate = 2008-06-26}}</ref> It received additional coverage by ''[[The Times]]'', [[ABC News]], ''[[The New York Times]]'', and ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name=times>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article1288631.ece A fat lot of use] on TimesOnline.co.uk, Jan 7, 2007</ref><ref name=abc>[http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/BeautySecrets/story?id=1310260 Oil and Water: Key to Weight Loss?] on abcnews.com, Nov 14, 2005</ref><ref name=nyt> Dubner and Levitt [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/11/magazine/11FREAK.html Does the Truth Lie Within?] The Accidental Diet, September 11, 2005.</ref><ref name=wpost>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/10/AR2006081001651.html Diets Do's and Don'ts] on WashingtonPost.com, August 13, 2006</ref>
The diet has been endorsed or mentioned by [[Tyler Cowen]], [[Stephen Dubner]], [[Timothy Ferriss|Tim Ferriss]], [[Tucker Max]], and ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' magazine writer Gary Wolf.<ref name=cowen>[http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2006/04/the_shangrila_d.html Marginal Revolution:] The Shangri-La Diet, April 7, 2006.</ref><ref name=ferriss>Ferriss, Tim [http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/01/27/relax-like-a-pro-5-steps-to-hacking-your-sleep/ Relax Like A Pro: Five Steps to Hacking Your Sleep] "thanks Seth Roberts, PHD. for this tip"</ref><ref name=Tucker>[http://messageboard.tuckermax.com/showthread.php?p=515754&#post515754 Tipping the Scales] Rudius Media Messageboards</ref><ref>[http://absolutelyeverythingelse.blogspot.com/2008/06/annals-of-self-experiment-seth-roberts.html Gary Wolf blog] "'I'm becoming a devoted fan of Seth Robert's, one of the great champion of self-experimentation."</ref> Radio host and tech guru, [[David Lawrence (radio host)|David Lawrence]] wrote that he lost over 100 pounds in the year after Roberts appeared on his radio show through a combination of the SLD, walking and drinking sugary beverages (which suppresses appetite according to the diet) an hour before meals.<ref>[http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/07/13/david-lawrence-down-100-pounds/ David Lawrence Down 100 Pounds!] Seth Roberts Blog. July 2008</ref>
It was heavily criticized by [[UCLA]] nutritionist Dr. John Ford.<ref name=ford>Ford, John [http://www.tcsdaily.com/Article.aspx?id=052206D Troubles in Shangri-La] on TCSDaily</ref>
In an interview on the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]'s ''Sunday Night'' program, nutritionist David Jenkins criticized the lack of scientific research validating the diet.<ref name=cbc>[http://youtube.com/watch?v=hR33LNwgGIc David Jenkins] YouTube Video</ref> In the same program, Roberts responded, saying that the results are there for all to see and that "there was no need for a big study to demonstrate the obvious".<ref name=cbc/> Jenkins admitted that the diet can only be benign, saying, "It is both cheap and safe."<ref name=cbc/>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.sethroberts.net/ Official website of Seth Roberts]. Includes a [http://blog.sethroberts.net/ blog] and a [http://boards.sethroberts.net/index.php forum].
*[http://www.amazon.com/Shangri-Diet-Hunger-Anything-Weight-Loss/dp/0399153640 The Shangri-La Diet on Amazon],
*[http://shangrilawatcher.blogspot.com/ The Original Shangri-La Diet Blog]
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[[Category:Health and wellness books]]
[[Category:Diet and food fads]]
[[Category:Food science]]