I'm A Celeb's 'basic' rice and beans diet 'lacks vitamins and minerals' , expert warns

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I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here is returning this weekend and the stars will once again be surviving on a daily diet of rice and beans. While some campmates, including Scarlett Moffatt and Fred Siriex, have attributed their weight loss to this infamous diet, one expert has issued a warning against it.

Kiran Jones, a clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, said: "We need to remember that, as well as not being a safe way to lose weight (the safe amount to lose is one to two pounds per week), it's not a nutritionally healthy diet to follow. That's because the 'basic' 700-calorie diet consists of rice and beans, which, while not necessarily bad for you, as together they make a meal full of carbohydrates, fibre, essential amino acids and protein, they're lacking in several key vitamins and minerals."

Nutritional deficiencies of the I'm A Celeb diet

Vitamin C

Kiran explained: "This vitamin, often found in foods like citrus fruits, is essential for immune function, skin health and wound healing. Without consuming vitamin C regularly, you're more likely to feel tired, weak and irritable and, in cases of extreme deficiency, are more likely to develop scurvy. It's no wonder the celebrities are always up for an argument!"

Vitamin B12

Kiran warned: "Without animal products or limited access to them, anyone following the rice and bean diet will lack the vitamin B12 essential for nerve function and red blood cell production. This can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, headaches, problems with vision, diarrhoea, a sore or red tongue or mouth ulcers, palpitations, mood swings and problems with your memory. Going without can also cause your hair and skin to become dry and your nails to become brittle, which explains why the campmates are big fans of the hats and bandanas."

Vitamin A

Kiran said: "Often found in foods like liver, fish, eggs and dairy products - Vitamin A is important for vision, immune function and skin health. Going without it for a few weeks can impair immune function, damage skin and hair health and make it harder to see at night - meaning you wouldn't be able to spot giant spiders easily!"

Magnesium

Kiran mentioned: "As an essential mineral that's included in over 300 biochemical reactions, including muscle and nerve function and energy production, a lack of magnesium can lead to muscle cramps or weakness, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Other unusual symptoms may include abnormal eye movements and cravings for chocolate – so if you spy celebs rolling their eyes or begging for their luxury item, you know why."

Calcium

Kiran stated: "An essential nutrient for bone health, muscle function and nerve signalling, not eating enough calcium can affect multiple areas of the body. For example, after a few weeks without calcium or vitamin D, your body will eventually start drawing on calcium reserves from your bones, making them weaker. It may also make your muscles cramp, and skin, hair and nails dry out and break. This may be an issue for celebrities trying to test their strength with gruelling challenges."

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