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Its almost inevitable that you've scrolled past a sweaty selfie of a friend, co-worker or high school classmate bragging about their WOD and professing their love for CrossFit.

CrossFit became a super popular workout a few years ago when box gyms began popping up not only across the country, but the world. CrossFit is practiced by members of over 13,000 affiliated gyms in 120 countries. In the U.S. alone, there are over 7,000 gyms offering the program. Its estimated that there are roughly 4 million CrossFitters, and its members are so devoted to the competitive approach to fitness that the community has even been described as cult-like.

With all this publicity, you may have wondered if this program could work for you. Before you jump into the box (ahem, thats CrossFit speak for gym), heres what you need to know about the workout craze and how to determine if it's right for you.

A form of high intensity interval training, CrossFit is a strength and conditioning workout that is made up of functional movement performed at a high intensity level.

These movements are actions that you perform in your day-to-day life, like squatting, pulling, pushing etc. Many workouts feature variations of squats, push-ups, and weight lifting that last for predetermined amounts of time to help build muscles. This varies from a traditional workout that may tell you how many reps to do over any period of time.

CrossFit Journal notes that the workouts are so effective because of their emphasis on the elements of load, distance and speed, which help participants develop high levels of power. The workout may utilize different equipment to accomplish this, including kettle bells, rowers and bikes, medicine balls, speed ropes, rings and plyo boxes.

CrossFit is similar to Orange Theory in that there is a standard "workout of the day" (WOD) that all members complete on the same day. The daily workout can be found on their website (which is always free), along with a guide to all the specialized lingo that is used. There is also a substitutions section on their FAQ page that suggests places to find level appropriate workouts. CrossFit is universally scalable and modifiable for all fitness levels, so it can be tailored to meet your goals and current fitness level, says Tracey Magee, owner and head coach of CrossFit Clan Performance Center.

You may have a preconceived notion of the type of person who belongs in a CrossFit gym (relatively young, jacked, etc.), but Tony Caravajal, certified L-2 CrossFit trainer with RSP Nutrition, strongly believes that CrossFit is hugely beneficial for the full spectrum of ages and athletic capabilities, starting with adolescents. CrossFit Kids classes are a fantastic way to help a child develop balance, coordination, as well as proper motor skills. He says that these skills are a fantastic way to put a child ahead of the game as well as instill a love for a healthily lifestyle.

Patrick Zeiher, owner of CrossFit Indian Trail, notes that one reason CrossFit is so beneficial for all ages is that the physical needs of a person vary by degree not by kind. We can literally have a 60-year-old athlete doing a similar variation of a workout as a 25-year-old competitive athlete, he says. Their needs don't vary by kind; in other words, they both need to be able to squat to a toilet, pick something up off the floor, or get themselves off the floor. The 25-year-old should just be able to do it all faster, says Zeiher.

Another essential element of CrossFit is the spirit of sports and competition. Many CrossFit gyms use strategic actions, like keeping a score board and posting winners to social media, as motivation rather than a reward system. So if youre someone who is motivated by competition to push yourself physically, CrossFit may prove a great exercise for you that drives fast results.

As with any high intensity workout, there is some risk involved. One study found that 20 percent of the CrossFit participants surveyed injured themselves while doing CrossFit endorsed workouts.

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The injury rate of CrossFit is about 20 percent, meaning 20 percent of people who perform CrossFit branded workouts regularly will be injured at some point, which is high for a recreational activity," says Cuyler Hudson, a physical therapist at Finish Line. "I personally see CrossFitters regularly in my physical therapy practice. Injuries will usually occur as an athlete fatigues, which causes their form to also fatigue, causing the load to be shifted from the areas it is supposed to be to areas that cannot handle the stress as well.

You may hear several acronyms and words thrown around during a class, either verbally or written on a board with the workout for the day. Here are some of the most common:

WOD: Workout of the Day

EMOM: Every Minute on the Minute

AMRAP: As Many Reps as Possible

Box: A CrossFit gym with the bare necessities to perform all the WODs.

Ladder: A series of exercises where you increase the number of reps by 1 each time they are performed. (i.e. 5 squats, then 6 squats, then 7 squats )

Zone Diet: The diet that CrossFit endorses. This diet is based on macronutrients.

SQ: Squat

PR: Personal Record. This refers to when you reach your personal best in a given exercise. For example, completing a certain number of push-ups in a minute.

Hero WOD: These workouts are named after first responders who have died in the line of duty. These workouts are especially difficult to remind CrossFitters of the sacrifices that these men and women made for their country.

Magee suggests that you communicate with your coach any limitations or restrictions you have, especially if youre just getting back into a workout routine or are a beginner. Once a person has been through their initial assessment, a qualified coach will help them determine the any modifications, such as particular movements or the volume of training for a particular workout, she says.

If you are a beginner, youre in luck. CrossFit accounts for this sector of the population. Some sort of beginner or foundations class is highly recommended for newcomers. In these classes, they'll learn the basics and improve fitness at their own pace. Once they learn the basic foundational skills and build their confidence, they can move into regular classes, explains Magee. A less experienced or very de-conditioned individual would be advised to start with fewer classes per week (usually 2-3), until their bodies have adapted to the new movements and the volume of training.

Even if you arent quite ready to jump full force into CrossFit, there are effective elements of the workout that you can incorporate into your current exercise routine.

Want more tips like these? NBC News BETTER is obsessed with finding easier, healthier and smarter ways to live. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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What is CrossFit? And is it right for you? Here's what you need to know - NBC News

Simon Cowell, 60, is a busy man being a successful talent manager and television producer, so much so, its surprise if he has any time to even sleep. But the arrival of his son Eric in 2014 led to the music mogul making some changes in his life.

In an interview with Terri Seymour on ITVs Lorraine, Simon revealed his lifestyle had led to him having an irregular sleep pattern.

He explained: I was like a vampire. I realised I was going to sleep between 5 and 7 in the morning, and then the trouble with that is no matter if you get six hours or eight hours you always wake up tired.

Thats the problem, because youre not supposed to do that.

But the star revealed hes now in a better sleep routine, going to bed and waking up at reasonable times.

READ MORE:Liam Payne health: I definitely wasnt ok Singer on his past health struggles [INSIGHT]

He said: I now go to sleep at 10, I now have breakfast at 8:30. Its almost like a complete reversal.

When asked about the impact his irregularly sleep pattern was having on Eric, he answered: That was a big part of it - it just didnt feel right.

I couldnt explain to someone his age Id been working all night and Im tired in the afternoon.

It bothered me, so I thought, Im just gonna do it, and once I did it, it was simple.

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Alongside overhauling his sleep pattern, Simon said he decided to start eating better and to lose weight.

He said: You just know when youve got to make a change.

I just suddenly realised my hours, what I was eating had to change.

Also I got confused because theres so many different diets - Im never going to understand what all these things are.

Then I met this guy and he made it very basic, and I tried it, and importantly I really felt better.

Once I knew I felt better then it was just easy to stick to.

Everyone thought I had one of those gastric band things, but no, it really was just cutting out certain things.

As part of his diet overhaul, Simon has cut out many foods.

But the food he misses the most is pizza. He revealed: Of all the things I miss, I miss pizza.

Like when Erics eating a pizza Im staring at it like, I really want to eat that pizza.

Many effects of lack of sleep include feeling grump and not being able to work as well.

But the NHS warns regular sleep puts people at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes. It also shortens life expectancy.

The health body advises: Most of us need around 8 hours of good-quality sleep a night to function properly but some need more and some less. What matters is that you find out how much sleep you need and then try to achieve it.

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Simon Cowell health: Why the X Factor star overhauled his sleep and eating habits - Express.co.uk

BANGED up 90 Day Fianc star Jorge Nava has lifted the lid on the secret to his 125lb weight loss in jail.

The star of the TLC show is currently serving a two and half year sentence for possession of drugs but has left people shocked by the dramatic change in his appearance.

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Earlier this week a new mug-shot showed that he had shed nearly nine stone since being sent to prison in 2018.

Jorge has lost all the weight after entering the Arizona State Prison Complex in Phoenix last September - and now we know why.

Speaking to E! from behind bars Jorge said: "I am glad that people are noticing some positivity out of such a negative outcome.

"Hopefully people can see that I am able to turn things around even though I am at the lowest point in my life."

He then went on to reveal how he did it.

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According to Jorge, he and a fellow inmate work out together every day - once at 4 a.m. and again in the afternoon.

"We both motivate each other and we push ourselves to the limit pretty much," the reality star explained, adding that he's focused primarily on "military-based" workouts and "a lot of jogging."

As for meals, Jorge eats plenty of oatmeal and peanut butter.

Due to him being incarcerated, he is no longer able to gorge on fast food and fizzy drinks, he said: "I had a really bad diet when I was out in the free world.

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"I wanted to be in the best physical and healthiest shape possible," Jorge also shares. "I feel healthy and energetic. I feel overall more confident with myself."

Jorge went to prison in September 2018 after being found with 132kg of marijuana in his car.

Speaking at the time about his sentence, he told TMZ: When I first started, with the charges against me, I was looking at around 24 years, something like that, some ridiculous number.

But luckily, my lawyer was able to work out a plea agreement and I got the charges dropped and I ended up pleading to a class four felony in Arizona.

I feel like its really harsh of a penalty for the crime being, Nava added. Just because its marijuana-related and right now, its going legal I feel like the whole fact of it, going to prison over the same stuff thats legal is kinda crazy to me.

Jorge rose to fame on season 4 of 90 Day Fiance in 2016 when he marred Russian model Anfisa Arkhipchenko, who he met on Facebook.

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Since being locked up Anfisa has undergone her own body transformation and has started competing in bodybuilding competitions.

She revealed: To fill the void that I felt after Jorge was sentenced and I was left on my own I decided to try to stay busy and do what I enjoy the most and it was working out.

And ONE DAY I want to take it on a higher level and compete in NPC bikini division.

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90 Day Fianc star Jorge Nava reveals the secret to his 125lb weight loss in jail - The Sun

DEAR ABBY: My companion of many years and I are retired and live a few hours away from some of his family. When one of them plans a visit, she always insists on taking us out for a meal. She doesnt ask if we would like to eat out but rather commands it. Then she insists on paying for the meal.

I enjoy cooking and visiting with family during and after meals. I know what our dietary restrictions are, and most restaurant meals do not meet those requirements, which include low sodium, fat and sugar and no gluten. According to my companion, Im a good cook, and he enjoys everything I make.

I know I should say something, but what? I need a suggestion on how to deal with the situation without hurting anyones feelings. THANKS, BUT NO THANKS

DEAR T.B.N.T.: This relative may not mean to seem overbearing and may only be trying to be nice. Thank her warmly for wanting to take you to dinner, but tell her no. Explain that because of medical reasons, both of you must strictly limit the sodium, fat, sugar and gluten in your diet, which is why the two of you have decided it is safer to eat at home, where you can control what goes into your food. Then invite her to join you because you would love to see her and spend time with her while shes in town.

DEAR ABBY: I am in a difficult situation. My dear friends and bosses, Rebecca and Caesar, are selling their home. They had offered to sell it to me and, at the time, I was interested in buying it. Then I did the one thing I never thought I would do. I found love. Because its no longer just me, their house wont work for us. I was honest with my friends. They have been giving me the silent treatment ever since, and its causing problems at work. What is a girl to do? IN LOVE IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR IN LOVE: Recognize that Rebecca and Caesar are understandably upset that what they thought would be a quick and easy sale has now become more complicated. Explain to them again that you didnt mean to cause them a problem, but your circumstances changed. And if they continue to take out their disappointment by punishing you at work, look for another job.

DEAR ABBY: I agreed to pay for a cellphone for a friends daughter while she went to school in the U.S. She was supposed to be here for three years. WELL, it is now year four, and shes planning to stay here after graduation. How do I tell her that I am not willing to continue paying for her phone after graduation? TRIED TO HELP IN TEXAS

DEAR TRIED TO HELP: You have several choices. You can tell her parents, write to her or call her on the cellphone you have so generously underwritten. And after you deliver the message, you should be thanked for your generosity not only by her but also her parents.

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Dear Abby: Dinner out is unwelcome gift for couple on restricted diets - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

Weve seen it all when it comes to celebrity diets.From the Air Diet (yes, thats really a thing) to the Baby Food diet, there will never be a lack of extreme diets touted by one celebrity or another.

Heres a look at 5 healthy eating tips from famous people that actually make sense, and even better, can be easily worked into anyones daily routine, and achieve killer results.

Its not sexy, but keeping a food journal really does work, according to American Idol winner Carrie Underwood. If her toned figure is the result of tracking food, its worth giving it a serious try.

Ive kept a food journal forever, since Im a bottomless pit, the Before He Cheatssinger told Cosmpolitan in 2017. I can out-eat everyone I know its like theres no sensor between my stomach and brain that says, Hey, youre full, stop eating! Once I recognized that about myself, I started tracking my diet, which helps me make better choices and pay attention to what Im eating. I also write down which exercises Im going to do later on.

Live with Kelly and Ryan host Kelly Ripa really sticks to a very cleandiet and loves Fage Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries or pistachios. But even she says its important to make room for treats once a week.

She told Good Housekeeping in 2017,At dinner, I eat a ton of vegetables and a salad, soup, or a light piece of fish. I try not to have too much cheese or too many high-fat foods, even though I love them.I would love nothing more than to have pizza and french fries every day, but I try to limit those treats to once a week.

Black-and-white thinking with food only leads to binges and more negative patterns. Its more realistic, more sustainable to eat well 80% of the time and relax the rules the other 20% of the time. Former The Biggest Loser trainer, Jillian Michaels, told US News in 2013 why shes such a big believer in the 80/20 rule.

Everybody gets caught up in thinking that health requires an extreme philosophy or state of mind, cutting out things like carbs, or fats or protein. Ive seen every diet, from Im paleo to Im vegan, to fasting diets and cleanses.

But the reality is, to lose weight and maintain your health, youve gotta have balance and common sense. So I say: 80 percent of the time, make the better food choice. And 20 percent of the time, have the fries. Have the pizza. Thats how you achieve that balance, so its not all or nothing, and it becomes manageable and sustainable.

Cutting down on meat can improve cholesterol levels, can reduce cancer risks, and can help with weight loss. Quite a few celebrities are vegan or vegetarian including Paul McCartney, Carrie Underwood, Kristen Bell, Natalie Portman, Alicia Silverstone, and even Americas Got Talent judge Simon Cowell, who lost 20 pounds when he switched to a vegan diet. He told Extra earlier this year about it.

I went to see this guy, whos very well-known, and he said to me after doing some blood work, You cant have red meat, dairy, sugar, bread or gluten. Im thinking, what about alcohol? Thats all I care about. And he said, Maybe not quite as much as you had before.

Having a good breakfast equals weight loss success.According to the National Weight Control Registry, one of the main factors among dieters who have successfully lost and kept weight off, was eating breakfast.Cindy Crawford is a believer in breakfast.

Its really important to start the day out right, the supermodel told Elle in 2015. Its very easy to control what you eat for breakfast, for the most part, if youre home. If you start with a good foundation, it sets you up well. I start out with a protein shake. That gets me through with very even energy.

Try these tips, be consistent, and the superstar changes will happen.

Read more:Jennifer Lopez Isnt Quitting Her No Carb and Sugar Diet Anytime Soon

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5 Celebrity Diet Tips That Could Actually Work For the Rest of Us - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

She slowly eased her way into exercise

Once I was 215 pounds, I kind of felt like I was just going to be stuck there forever, Dukes says. My mindset was really poor and I didnt enjoy exercise and I couldnt honestly even think of what life was like before I packed on the weight, because I felt very stuck in my body.

She says she didnt exercise at all.

And it felt very hard for me to move my body, she says, and frankly, I also felt very embarrassed to go to the gym. I felt like I didnt know what I was doing.

To get started, she set a goal for herself: In the beginning, it was just move my body every day, do a little bit more than I did yesterday.

Dukes signed up for a gym membership. Every day, she worked out on the elliptical for 20 minutes.

In the beginning, 20 minutes on the elliptical felt like I was dying each day, she says.

That eventually became a lot easier because my body got stronger. I built up my endurance and my strength, and so thats when it became more fun, she says.

She adds, I found I was able to do a lot more than I was beforehand because it made me want to try new things.

After about six months, Dukes says she had lost about 30-40 pounds. She started to do more high-intensity training with weights.

Losing weight can be difficult, but its important not to fixate on the end goal, says Dukes. Its easy to look at how far we have to go and feel very discouraged by that, she says.

She says to focus on one day at a time.

Focus today on making good nutrition choices, moving your body, and then tomorrow, doing a little bit more, she says. Maybe drink a little more water, get a little more activity in. Maybe rather than taking the elevator, take the stairs. Just do a little more, because all of those healthy habits compound over time, and they snowball into big results.

She says its also important to focus on having a healthy mindset.

Its not some diet or some weight loss kick that youre going to be on, says Dukes. Just make the decision to be healthy and never stop. If youre making those health decisions every day, its going to compound.

Dukes says losing weight feels amazing.

I never thought I would be in the shoes I am in today, but losing the weight has completely changed my life, she says.

She says her weight loss isnt about the weight on the scale or being able to fit into a smaller size.

Just genuinely loving how you feel and what you look like and having the confidence, it changes everything in life, says Dukes.

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How this woman lost 75 pounds: Gradual lifestyle changes were the key to her weight loss success - NBC News

Jennifer Aniston is one the worlds most recognizable and beloved celebrities, and the fact that she has stayed youthfully glowing for the three decades shes been in the spotlight is a feat that has drawn a lot of attention. It turns out that Anistons health routines are relatively sensible. She makes choices rooted in self-control and repetition to maintain her health.

If fans want to follow in her footsteps, what changes should they make to their own exercise and diet habits? It turns out that one eating habit has really made a difference for Aniston.

Aniston has revealed that part of her health routine is intermittent fasting. She explains that she does not eat any solid food in the morning and sticks to just green juice and coffee. While it may sound easy enough to skip a hearty breakfast, Anistons routine is a little stricter than that. She has only an 8-hour window in which she is allowed solid food each day.

I noticed a big difference in going without solid food for 16 hours, she explained.

While this may sound like simply another fad diet, Aniston (and the many other celebrities and fitness gurus who follow suit) have science on their side. The Harvard Health Blog explains that more and more studies are stacking up to show the benefits of intermittent fasting. The trend can help with weight loss, but it can also boost metabolism in people generally.

Dr. Monique Tello writes that the fasting can be particularly useful at preventing diseases like diabetes: There is some good scientific evidence suggesting that circadian rhythm fasting, when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, can be a particularly effective approach to weight loss, especially for people at risk for diabetes.

While some celebrities boast mind-boggling workout routines that would never translate to most regular peoples lives, Anistons workout regimen is surprisingly common sense. She focuses on a reasonable 45 minutes of cardio intervals (she prefers the elliptical) and gets a wide variety of weight and resistance training.

She likes to mix up her activities to prevent boredom, and she makes sure to travel with a pair of 8-pound weights so that she can squeeze a workout in on the road.

While the actress doesnt spend hours upon hours exercising every day, she makes it clear that consistency is key. Sticking with an exercise plan on a regular basis makes it a normal part of daily life, and Aniston has made a commitment to her health.

While Aniston clearly takes good care of her body, its important to note that her healthy habits extend to her mind as well. The actress has a daily routine of meditation that makes sure she sets herself up for a great day of focus and intention.

When shes not on set working, she tends to be a relatively late riser, letting herself sleep in until 8 or 9 in the morning.

As soon as she has woken up, though, she makes time to meditate. She uses a set transcendental meditation mantra and prefers to practice the mindfulness exercise for twenty minutes at a time. However, on days when her time is particularly strained, shell settle for a ten-minute session. The practice helps her make good decisions and is likely an integral part of her healthy approach to bouncing back from relationship struggles.

This combination of healthy mind, body, and diet practices has certainly worked for Aniston. She maintains youthful energy and appearance that stuns fans, and even though her personal life has often been splashed across headlines for the world to see she remains graceful and calm.

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Jennifer Aniston Made This 1 Change in Her Diet That Really Made a Difference - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Dwight Howards career trajectory took a sharp decline after his first stint with the Lakers. Hes played with five teams in the past five seasons, and each stop had its share of Dwight Howard Is Rejuvenated headlines that didnt exactly pan out.

This second stop with the Lakers, though, feels different. Not because Howard has been lighting up the stat sheet he hasnt been but hes finally acting like a player who knows his role on a team and knows how to take care of himself as a 34-year-old.

Hes no longer the player who needed medical intervention because he was eating 24 candy bars a day. Speaking after the Lakers 118-112 win against the Bulls on Tuesday, Howard was asked about being one of the last remaining prep-to-pro players in the league. He answered that question by discussing a newfound focus on health.

He said via The Athletics Bill Oram:

Back then I thought Id be able to play forever, thought I could eat McDonalds, chicken wings and honey buns every single day, but I realized as you get older, youve got to really take care of your body, youve got to listen to your body.

So, my advice for anybody is try to eat as healthy as you can. Health is wealth. A lot of people try to get rich with money, but try to get rich with your body.

Howard even followed up those comments by going through a quick workout after the game.

Even if the workout was strictly for an Instagram clip, its something. His diet and health habits used to be *that* bad. Hes clearly made a change in those habits, and the Lakers are benefiting from an efficient Dwight Howard who has accepted his role as a bench player.

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Dwight Howard is working out after games and no longer eating 24 candy bars a day - For The Win

Plenty of people are skeptical of "miraculous" cures and belly-blasting products sold on infomercials and in airplane catalogs. But the seemingly healthy drinks sold at Whole Foods and the supplements lining your local drugstore are so ubiquitous, even skeptics may assume they work, or at least don't hurt.

Several products in particular have no place in people's kitchens or medicine cabinets, according to nutrition experts.

Insider asked nine dietitians who attended the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo to name a product people buy in an effort to improve their health that just isn't worth it, and three themes emerged.

Probiotic supplements, alkaline water, and "detox" products like juice cleanses don't have the evidence to justify their use, they said.

Probiotics are live bacteria found in foods like yogurt and kombucha that have health benefits, particularly for the gut. But when packaged in supplement form, their benefits are more murky, New York City-based registered dietitian Tamara Duker Freuman, who works in a gastrointestinal practice and wrote the book, "The Bloated Belly Whisperer," told Insider.

"There is such paltry evidence of benefit for most commercially available products," she said.

While the supplements may help treat infectious bacteria, there's not enough evidence to show they work at healing any of the other ailments they're marketed for, from the common cold to preterm labor.

The term "probiotic" also applies to many different types of bacteria. It's not always clear what a given product contains or whether the strain any one person buys is linked to the health benefit they're seeking.

Even the concept of using probiotics to help counter the potentially disruptive effects of antibiotics on the balance of gut bacteria isn't well-founded, registered dietitian Malina Malkani, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and creator of the Wholitarian Lifestyle, told Insider.

"Probiotics offer many potential health benefits, but there is evidence that probiotic supplements may actually prolong the gut microbiome's process of resuming its normal state after antibiotic use," she said. While people take probiotics in an effort to populate their guts with the "good" bacteria antibiotics can kill, the supplements may just make the process of getting the gut back to normal take even longer. Water is good for your health, whether or not it's in an expensive bottle with a fancy name. Cate Gillon/Getty Images

Ginger Hultin, a Seattle-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, named alkaline water as the one product people buy for health that just isn't worth it.

The beverage, which has a higher pH level and is therefore less acidic that plain water, is marketed as providing better hydration, detoxifying the body, balancing pH levels, boosting energy, and even supporting weight loss. Some varieties go for as much as $15 for a 1.5 liter container, Insider previously reported.

Nutrition experts say it's probably not superior to plain old water. Plus, research on diets and cancer risk found that alkaline water had no proven health benefits for cancer prevention or anything else.

"Basically, the type of water you choose to drink won't have a considerable impact on your health, provided that it's plain, calorie-free water," Ali Webster, a registered dietitian and associate director of nutrition communications for the International Food Information Council Foundation, previously told Insider.

You and your wallet are better off just eating an apple. Cindy Ord/Getty Images

While springing for a fancy cold-pressed juice isn't necessarily unhealthy, there are better and more cost-effective ways to get nutrients, experts say.

"I want people to eat and chew their food and get all the benefits," registered dietitian Amy Kimberlain, a certified diabetes educator at Baptist Health South Florida and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Insider.

Blending fruits and vegetables causes them to lose a lot of the fiber you'd get if you simply ate them, Kimberlain added. "We don't talk about fiber and all it's health benefits enough," she said. A lower risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic diseases are among those benefits, according to a study commissioned by the World Health Organization.

What's more, slinging back juices in the name of detoxifying or cleansing the body misunderstands how the body actually works and can even be risky, New York City registered dietitian Bonnie Taub Dix, author of "Read It Before You Eat It: Taking You from Label to Table," told Insider.

"We each have a liver and kidneys to do that job without needing a detox diet that is, in most cases, inadequately balanced and lacking in so many important nutrients," she said. As a result, dieters can wind up tired, irritable, lightheaded, and weak.

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3 'health' products that are a waste of money, according to dietitians - INSIDER

Of all the culinary staples to be found at a luau, poi a nutrient-rich paste made from mashed taro root is the most divisive. As purple as a fading bruise, with the texture of baby food, the sweet and sometimes sour starch, once a pillar of the Native Hawaiian diet, offends the average American palate which is exactly what prompted chef Lee Anne Wong to get creative with it. At Koko Head Cafe, her popular all-day brunch restaurant in Honolulu, she ferments poi into yogurt, sours it into hollandaise sauce, and bakes the koena, or the outer scrapings off the taros corm, the plants fuzzy underground stem, into dense but flaky biscuits.

Wong, who competed in the first season of Top Chef, is one of a handful of local chefs reinterpreting taro (known in Hawaii as kalo) for modern diners. By doing so she hopes to invigorate a Native Hawaiian culinary tradition, which for centuries relied heavily on the crop for both physical and spiritual sustenance (the vegetable features in the origin stories of Polynesian deities like Kane, the god of sunshine and fresh water). She also sees the plant as an exciting gateway to flavor. Once you understand how to work with poi it becomes this incredible ingredient thats really diverse and flexible, she says, noting that the poi typically served at luaus geared toward tourists is factory produced. Compared to hand-pounded poi, its the difference between having Whole Foods sushi and actually sitting down for an omakase from a real sushi chef, she says. For this she pays a hefty price: between $12 and $16 a pound for paiai, the hand-pounded slab of pre-processed taro corm that becomes poi when mixed with water. When you taste the stuff thats been hand-processed and made with love, get that, she says. I think the mana a Polynesian concept that loosely translates to power is actually in the food.

Here, six restaurants in Hawaii that are spotlighting taro in ways both new and old, from a six-course tasting menu in the Maui resort community of Wailea to a take-out-only shack off the Kamehameha Highway on Oahu.

Like his other Honolulu establishments Town and Kaimuki Superette, chef Ed Kenneys buzzy cocktail bar Mud Hen Water focuses on seasonal ingredients from local farmers, with an eye toward invention. The local-born chef interprets island classics with a contemporary twist, dicing bits of Portuguese sausage, an island breakfast favorite, into soupy bowls of pocho mussels and flecking beet poke with smoked macadamia nuts. He also has a revelatory approach to taro, which he blends into hummus and serves with a kukui nut lavash. For the dish Yaki o Paiai, a small slab of pre-processed taro is pounded behind the restaurant then drizzled in shoyu and grilled yakitori style. Wrapped in nori, its reminiscent of mochi, but with a sweet-sour tang.

This shack on the east side of Oahu was originally a poi factory, founded in 1905 when poi was still an affordable staple of the local diet. In the 70s, after demand for poi declined because of westernization and rising costs, the building was converted into an art gallery; it reopened as a Hawaiian food counter in 2009. Poi is now hand-pounded on site, next to picnic tables where locals enjoy savory plates of beef luau stew, composed of slow-cooked taro leaves, dripping shreds of kalua pig (a salty butt roast served at a luau), and lomi lomi salmon, a ceviche-like side dish made with chopped tomato and cucumber. But as its name suggests, poi is the main attraction here, and that focus extends beyond the menu; owner Liko Hoe offers monthly workshops that examine the historical significance of poi in Native Hawaiian culture.

After moving to Oahu from New York in 2013, chef Lee Anne Wong noticed a dearth of casual breakfast cafes catering to local diners. Cue her all-day island-style brunch house, which balances breakfast staples like a goat cheese frittata with her poke omelet (the cubes of tuna are fried and wrapped in egg). On occasion, Wong is also known to serve a poke featuring steamed chunks of taro, which she tops with seared skipjack tuna. But the dish shes most proud of is her local-style eggs Benedict, supported by a poi biscuit and a drizzle of sour poi hollandaise. Its called the Eggs Haloa, after the mythological Hawaiian figure who, as legend has it, reincarnated into the very first taro plant.

Each morning, the cooks at this mom-and-pop lunch deli in Kapaa begin steaming their laulau (salted slabs of fatty pork) by 3 a.m., giving the taro leaves encasing the meat enough time to cook. (Otherwise, enzymes in the leaves can cause an itchy throat.) The process takes six hours, which makes fresh laulau hard to come by one reason the 100 bundles the cooks make each day are typically sold out by noon. For customers with a sweet tooth, kulolo, a traditional Hawaiian delicacy made from baked taro corms, is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and comes straight from two nearby companies: Kapaa Poi Factory and Hanalei Taro and Juice Co. The dessert has a sticky-smooth consistency akin to Jell-O crossed with pudding.

At his restaurant within the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, a five-star beachside hotel, chef Isaac Bancaco works closely with local farmers to shape his seasonally evolving tasting menu. Recently, local Asian influences have punctuated the menu, seen in dishes such as breadfruit hush puppies, a watermelon salad dusted with li hing mui (salted dried plums), or fried chicken served with a side of buttery cake and mochi. And Bancaco isnt shy about taking risks: One recent dinner featured a deconstructed Peking duck served whole, its heart topped with orange peel and shavings of aged paiai.

When this neighborhood diner won a James Beard Award in 2000, it was only the third restaurant from Hawaii to be recognized by the foundation after the upscale bastions of local cuisine, Alan Wongs and Roys. The award simply confirmed what locals already knew: that this cash-only no-frills institution in the heart of Honolulu had been a reliable source of local food, colloquially referred to by Hawaiians as grinds, since 1946, when its founder Helen Chock first opened her doors. Her grandson runs the place now, sticking to time-tested favorites like kalua pig and pipikaula short ribs, the bony strips of dried beef favored by paniolos, or Hawaiian cowboys. Less hyped but just as memorable is the creamy squid luau, a native Hawaiian stew made semisweet with taro leaves and coconut milk.

Read more here:
Where to Eat Hawaiis Most Sacred Ingredient - The New York Times

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