A nutritionist has issued a pretty grim warning after the shocking I’m A Celebrity diet was revealed by Ant and Dec last week.
By now, ITV viewers will know all about the infamous jungle scran of rice and beans, which is unfortunately the diet many of the campmates over the years have had to endure.
The food rules are so extreme, they've even led considerable weight loss in some.
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So, to find out more about the diet, Tyla spoke with gut health nutritionist Adrienne Benjamin from ProVen Biotics, who told us all about just what eating rice and beans everyday for three weeks straight can do to your body.
The health benefits of the I'm A Celeb diet
Adrienne tells us that rice and beans offer 'numerous' health benefits, as they provide a source of energy, due to high levels of carbohydrates, alongside fibre and some essential vitamins and minerals.
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"Beans are rich in potassium, which can help regulate blood pressure, while both rice and beans are high in fibre, promoting healthy digestion, helping to stabilise blood sugar levels, and supporting overall gut health," the expert said.
The risks of the I'm A Celeb diet
Now, while rice and beans are generally considered a healthy and balanced meal, there are some potential downsides to consider.
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For example, Adrienne warns, the high consumption of white rice can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels, although this is likely to be somewhat 'offset' by the protein content of the beans.
She continued: "The ratio of beans to rice is important as the beans will provide most of the fibre and protein content of the meal and thus most of the nutritional benefit and the largest contribution to satiety (feeling full) - so the contestants were right in their instinct to save the beans from the dirt in an earlier episode."
Additionally, the expert pointed out that the meal combination 'does not contain adequate levels' of fat, which is required for longer-term energy, for healthy cell membranes and for absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K.
Farting on the I'm A Celeb diet
OK guys, we've probably all been thinking about all things flatulence due to the beans, but let's be adults about this.
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Adrienne confirms that some of the campmates may be experiencing 'excessive gas' due to their new diet, explaining: "Rice and beans can impact the gut in a number of ways.
"Beans contain complex carbohydrates, such as oligosaccharides, which both support gut health and regularity, and can be challenging for the body to digest, particularly for people who are not used to eating them.
"As a result of their indigestible fibres not being broken down completely in the stomach and small intestines, they are used as food by certain bacteria strains in the large intestines, which ferment them and may cause excessive gas in people who have high numbers of these types of bacteria in their microbiome."
Weight loss with the I'm A Celeb diet
According to the nutritionist, both rice and beans are useful foods to include in a healthy diet but they would 'ideally' be supported by a variety of other foods that offer a wider mix of nutrients.
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"Eating small amounts of the same foods every day will result in weight loss and lower energy levels as the body requires a wide range of nutrients to support its many biochemical pathways and to sustain cell and tissue growth," she warns, noting that rice and beans can be a healthy addition to a weight loss plan depending on how they're prepared and portioned.
However, she says they should be eaten 'in addition' to other foods that provide a 'wider range of nutritional support'.
Adrienne continued: "The type of rice and beans being eaten can also make a difference.
"Brown rice provides more nutrients than white and different beans will provide differing nutrition profiles, with darker coloured beans containing more antioxidants - and the contestants appear to be eating only white rice and white beans."
Portion sizes on the I'm A Celeb diet
Adrienne tells us that the amount of rice and beans given to the contestants each day is 'probably not' enough.
"This is dependent upon the size and weight of each individual, whether they are male or female, and the amount of energy they are expending each day, but the small portion of rice and beans allocated to each contestant is unlikely to be enough for anybody’s daily nutrition requirements," she explains.
Not only can this lead to weight loss, but it can lead to the celebs becoming 'increasingly lethargic, with lowered energy, focus and mood' the less stars they win and the more they have to rely on rice and beans alone, adding: "This is indicative of the low levels of both macro and micro-nutrients these two foods provide on their own."
After the jungle
The nutritionist tells us that a meal solely of rice and beans 'lacks a number of nutrients' including healthy fats and essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A and zinc.
She also warned that: "Eating only these two foods over the longer term may lead to nutrient deficiencies.
"A diet lacking in fat can also impact brain health and lead to lower mood and ability to concentrate, particularly over the longer-term."
Due to this, Adrienne has advised contestants upon leaving the jungle to 'take a daily probiotic to help support their gut health and digestive system as it re-adjusts to normal eating habits'.
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Topics: Food and Drink, Advice, Im A Celebrity, Celebrity, Health, ITV, TV And Film, Reality TV, Ant and Dec
Rhiannon Ingle