One of the most ridiculous fad diets ever invented is the cookie diet.

In essence this diet claims that amino acids baked into cookies can control hunger.

Fad diets seem to be everywhere these days. In general a fad diet is a diet which is designed to last for short periods of time, during which large amounts of weight can supposedly be lost. Most fad diets center on some super weight loss food, much like the cookie diet centers on the cookie. They are usually sold by a series of wild claims, much like the old pitch men pitched in the traveling medicine shows.

The cookie diet came about as the result of research into natural foods done for a book in 1975. This cookie diet consisted of patients eating six cookies each day in place of meals, then eating a reasonable dinner. People on the diet ate only 800 calories a day. People went wild over the cookie diet to the extent that 14 clinics opened in Florida. By the 80's 200 doctors were pushing the cookie diet. The diet was quickly expanded to miracle soups and shakes that also contained the amino acids.

There is another version of the cookie diet referred to as the Hollywood cookie diet because it became popular with many Hollywood stars.

Stars and starlets made their use of the diet well known, which helped vault it to public attention. This newer version of the diet included four cookies and a dinner. Each cookie contains approximately 150 calories, loaded with fiber, protein and 13 vitamins and minerals.

Don't waste time with the cookie diet.

If you want to lose weight, or maintain a healthy eating lifestyle, simply lower the amount of calories you eat from everyday foods and add some exercise. Forget miracle foods even if a star tells you to try them.