by Katerina Nikolas

Created on: July 06, 2010   Last Updated: November 08, 2010

Whilst dieters are sucked in by the marketing claims of quick weight loss fad diets every day, there is a far more worrying diet trend out there which is preying on the vulnerable. Indeed many diets are promoted as such miracles that not only will the dieter lose weight but they will cure themselves of their illnesses. From cancer to haemorrhoids, religious diets are directed at the sick as well as the overweight, promising miracle cures and often advocating that the followers they manage to attract steer clear of conventional medicine and doctors that kill.

These diets are devised by those who often hold fake qualifications in nutrition, usually purchased on the internet. Cleverly wrapping their diets up in religion they prey on Bible fans who believe that the diet creators are interpreting the scriptures correctly. In fact they usually pick a choice passage to make their Biblical diet decree and pay scant attention to any passage which conflicts with their sermons. The Bible isn’t actually a diet but that does not prevent many using it, primarily to sell unnecessary supplements at great expense, which weren’t actually promoted in the Bible.

The Hallelujah diet is promoted by the Reverend Malkmus, who has thankfully now stopped using the title of Doctor. He did for a while as one of his fans gave him an honorary doctorate but it certainly leant him credence to those who were unaware it was valueless. The Hallelujah diet promises to cure all illnesses through diet, prayer and supplements. The diet consists of a large percentage of raw food, though you can opt to purchase one of the Reverend’s dehydrated salads if you choose.

This is a wonderful scam which has amassed the cadaverous Reverend a fortune, and a host of disciples reminiscent of a cult. This diet is primarily targeted at Evangelical Christians. This link shows the many illnesses which the Reverend says the diet has cured: http://www.helium.com/items/1790314-how-testimonials -are-used-to-sell-the-hallelujah-diet

Another diet which uses religion and the promise of a wonder cure for self inflicted illness is that promoted by Dr Lorraine Day. She was in fact a medical professional before discovering that God could help her amass a tidy sum through supplement sales, not to mention DVD’s. Day's diet, also high in raw food, involves reading her own religious rants which incorporate virulent anti Semitism and her belief that the World Health Organization is on a crusade to kill

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