Gwyneth Paltrow has sparked a lifestyle debate again, this time for her diet.
The Oscar-winning actress and founder of lifestyle site Goop recently made headlines after she shared her wellness routine, including what she ate in a day, leading some to brand her eating habits "restrictive".
Appearing on The Art of Being Well podcast, Paltrow, 50, told host Will Cole, a doctor in natural medicine, that she does intermittent fasting.
"I usually eat something about 12. And in the morning, I’ll have some things that won’t spike my blood sugar. So, I have coffee," she says in a video that was widely shared on TikTok.
For lunch, she says she often eats soup, namely bone broth. This is followed by dinner, which consists of "lots of vegetables" at around 6pm, before she fasts again until midday the next day.
"For dinner, I try to eat according to paleo. So lots of vegetables. It's really important for me to support my detox," she says.
Paltrow also said she tries to incorporate an hour of movement, whether a walk or Pilates followed by time in the sauna for 30 minutes.
The video, which has been viewed more than three million times, sparked heated debate, with some users calling out Paltrow for "promoting starving".
One user called the mother-of-two "the mother of all almond mums".
While its origin is unclear, an almond mum is a popular term on social media, used to describe a parent whose mindset around wellness is linked to diet culture — specifically, mums who encourage their others to eat a handful of almonds rather than a meal to tide over hunger.
Plus-sized model Tess Holliday, who has openly discussed her battle with anorexia, expressed concern about the implications of the video.
"This isn't normal and it's affecting a whole generation of young folks who think that eating like Gwyneth Paltrow is okay," she says in her own reaction video.
Paltrow's response
At the weekend, Paltrow responded to the backlash with a video posted on her Instagram Stories, reassuring her followers that she eats far more than only bone broth and vegetables.
She said she designed the diet with her doctor to control the high levels of inflammation she's suffering from as a result of long Covid, adding that she also eats cooked vegetables, all types of protein, healthy carbohydrates and occasionally indulges in French fries.
"This was a transparent look at a conversation between me and my doctor. It's not meant to be advice for anybody else," she said. "It's really just what has worked for me, and it's been very powerful and very positive. This is not to say that I eat this way all day every day."
Since she launched Goop in 2008, Paltrow and her company have been the subject of a number of controversies.
In 2018, Goop was fined $145,000 (Dh532,000) for its "unsubstantiated marketing claims" when it said that an egg-shaped jade would improve women's hormonal imbalances.
The site also famously sold "healing" stickers that it claimed were made from the same material as Nasa spacesuits. Mark Shelhamer, a former chief human research scientist at Nasa, called the product "nonsense".
In 2001, Paltrow was criticised by dermatologists when she shared her tips on how to apply sunscreen for Vogue.
“I am not a head-to-toe slatherer of sunscreen," Paltrow says in the video, proceeding to apply sunscreen only on her nose, cheeks, upper lip and chin — or according to her, "the area where the sun really hits."
One dermatologist told USA Today, the actress was sending a "very dangerous message."
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Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a white satin blazer, attend the 'Living in Oblivion' premiere on July 12, 1995 at the Royal Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in jeans and a leather jacket, and Brad Pitt attend the premiere of 'Copycat' in Los Angeles, California, on October 19, 1995. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Donna Karan, attends the premiere of 'Great Expectations' in Los Angeles, California, on January 20, 1998. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Giorgio Armani, and Hillary Clinton attend the 'Shakespeare in Love' premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York, US, on December 3, 1998. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a taffeta skirt and cardigan, attends the 56th annual Golden Globe Awards on January 24, 1999 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Ralph Lauren, arrives at the 71st annual Academy Awards on March 21, 1999 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a pale blue slip dress, arrives at the sixth annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 12, 2000 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a silky relaxed two-piece, attends a Miramax pre-Oscar party in Beverly Hills, California, on March 25, 2000. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Calvin Klein, arrives at the 72nd annual Academy Awards on March 26, 2000 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a strapless LBD and pashmina, attends the premiere of 'Bounce' on November 15, 2000 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York, US. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a simple shirt and trousers, arrives for the premiere of 'Snatch' on January 18, 2001 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images -
Stella McCartney and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a black cold-shoulder dress, attend a gala to celebrate the clothes of Jacqueline Kennedy on April 23, 2001 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, US. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Valentino, and Valentino Garavani attend the opening ceremony of the 59th Venice Film Festival on August 29, 2002 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a ruffled LBD, attends the 28th annual Deauville Film Festival on September 3, 2002 in Deauville, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a strapless black midi, attends the BFI London Film Festival closing gala at the Odeon Leicester Square on November 6, 2003 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Vivienne Westwood, and Jude Law arrive at the premiere of 'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow' at the Empire Leicester Square on September 27, 2004 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a tweed two-piece, attends a photo call at Hotel Hesperia on November 11, 2004 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a cap-sleeved black dress, arrives at the premiere of 'Proof' at the Odeon West End on October 22, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Stella McCartney, attends the launch party of Stella McCartney's collaboration with H&M at St Olave's House on October 25, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in velvet boots and a silk dress, arrives at the premiere of 'I'm Going to Tell You a Secret' at the Chelsea Cinema on November 29, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Zac Posen, arrives for the 79th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 25, 2007. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Stella McCartney, attends a photo call at the Ritz-Carlton on April 22, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Sonia Rykiel, attends the premiere for 'Iron Man' at the Cinemaxx on April 22, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Preen, attends the 'Iron Man' premiere at Warner Moderno Cinema on April 23, 2008 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Chanel, attends the 'Two Lovers' premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2008 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Antonio Berardi, arrives at the 'Two Lovers' premiere on November 4, 2008 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in jeans and a blazer, attends the Stella McCartney show as part of Paris Womenswear Fashion Week at Palais de Tokyo on October 5, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Donna Karan, attends the Mamounia hotel inauguration on November 26, 2009 in Marrakech, Morocco. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Elie Saab, arrives at the Laureus World Sports Awards at Emirates Palace Hotel on March 10, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, attends the National Movie Awards at Royal Festival Hall on May 26, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Stella McCartney, attends the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, US, on May 2, 2011. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, poses at a photo call during the 68th Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo del Cinema on September 3, 2011 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, attends the 'Contagion' premiere during the 68th Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema on September 3, 2011 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Elie Saab, attends the Bambi Awards at the Rhein-Main-Hallen on November 10, 2011 in Wiesbaden, Germany. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Tom Ford, arrives for the 84th annual Academy Awards at the Hollywood and Highland Centre in Hollywood, California, on February 26, 2012. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Louis Vuitton, attends a Louis Vuitton party as part of Paris Fashion Week at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs on March 7, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, arrives for the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, US, on May 7, 2012. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Hugo Boss, presents the new Boss Nuit Pour Femme perfume at the Neptuno Palace on October 29, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Erdem, attends the premiere of 'Iron Man 3' at the Grand Rex theatre in Paris, France, on April 14, 2013. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Dior, attends a photo call at The Dorchester on April 17, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Valentino, attends the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, US, on May 6, 2013. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, at Printemps Haussmann on November 7, 2013 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, attends the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 2, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, arrives for the 49th annual Goldene Kamera awards at Flughafen Tempelhof in Berlin, Germany, on February 1, 2014. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Lanvin, arrives for the premiere of 'Mortdecai' at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on January 21, 2015. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Ralph & Russo, arrives for the 87th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 22, 2015. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Marc Jacobs, arrives at the amfAR Hong Kong gala at Shaw Studios on March 14, 2015 in Hong Kong. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Valentino, attends the Valentino show at Piazza Mignanelli on July 9, 2015 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Gucci, arrives for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles, California, on November 7, 2015. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Michael Kors, attends an Audi event at Hotel zur Tenne on January 22, 2016 in Kitzbuehel, Austria. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Gucci, attends Elle Magazine's 30th anniversary party at Circulo de Bellas Artes Club on October 26, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Gucci, arrives for the Lacma Art + Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles, California, on October 29, 2016. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Retrofete, attends the premiere of 'Avengers: Infinity War' at the El Capitan and TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on April 23, 2018. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Emilia Wickstead, attends the Gwyneth Paltrow x Frederique Constant Ladies Automatic launch at the Design Museum on June 21, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in G Label by Goo, attends the premiere of 'Avengers: Endgame' at the LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, California, on April 22, 2019. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Valentino, attends the Valentino show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 3, 2019 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Adam Lippes, attends the amFAR gala at Milk Studios in Los Angeles, California, on October 10, 2019. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Fendi, arrives for the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2020. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Ralph & Russo, attends the Harper's Bazaar Exhibition as part of Paris Fashion Week at Musee des Arts Decoratifs on February 26, 2020 in Paris, France. Getty Images
