The raw eggplant diet

Some people believe eggplants are good at absorbing oil, and if they eat raw eggplant, the vegetable will absorb intestinal oils, and help them to shed a few extra kilos.

Lin Feng comments: The dietary fiber in eggplants binds to fat, creating a feeling of satiety, irrespective of whether the eggplant is raw or cooked. However, if the intake of raw eggplants is too high, the solanine they contain will cause irritation of the digestive tract, and can have a narcotic effect on respiratory centers, because solanine is toxic in large doses.

The no-breakfast diet

The theory is that skipping breakfast will reduce the number of calories consumed and promote weight loss.

Lin Feng comments: Breakfast is important for health because it provides energy at the start of the day. What's more, if people skip breakfast, they will be very hungry by lunchtime and will probably eat more than they should at midday. It's highly likely that without a proper breakfast people will gain weight rather than lose it.