The GOLO diet, one of the most recent diets on the market, is gaining popularity.
In 2009, the GOLO diet, also called the GOLO Metabolic Plan, was introduced.
According to the diet’s official website, it was created by a “team of dedicated doctors and pharmacists,” although it is unclear who they are.
According to the website, to adhere to the GOLO diet, you must consume “1,300 to 1,500 nutritionally packed calories” every day. Plus you have to take a nutritional supplement called Release.
The aim is to get healthier without extreme calorie restriction, food group elimination, or eating unhealthy diet foods.
Below you’ll get an overview of the GOLO diet is as well as how much it will cost you to follow this diet.
GOLO Review & Costs
Unlike other diets, such as the keto or Mediterranean diets, the GOLO diet is more of a specific diet plan than a manner of eating.
There is some flexibility in what you can eat on the GOLO diet. But, the diet’s creator, GOLO, LLC, demands you to take a specific supplement.
The diet is based on the concept of regaining control of your metabolic health. This involves making your metabolism “more efficient,” addressing insulin resistance (insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood, and insulin resistance is a hallmark of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes), and balancing hormones (such as hunger and stress hormones).
Insulin resistance appears to be the program’s primary objective for the first component.
According to GOLO, LLC, the supplement prevents weight gain and “reverses insulin resistance.” This is so the body can “release stored fat.”
Under their strategy, you “stop dieting.” Instead, you simply take Release. Which, according to the manufacturer, regulates insulin and stimulates weight loss without calorie counting or dieting. As is typical for many diets, there are a few recommended and a few prohibited foods.
The website does cite research verifying the safety of Release and the efficacy of the GOLO diet for weight loss. However, it’s important to note that both pilot trials and published studies were funded or sponsored in some way by GOLO. Also, the number of people in the studies were quite low.
Foods You Can Eat
You have a number of food choices when on GOLO. Some examples are:
- Fruits and vegetables (frozen and fresh)
- Carbohydrates (rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, beans)
- Meat (chicken, beef)
- Coconut oil
That said, the GOLO diet cannot be discussed without including Release, the plan’s approved supplement.
The supplement is made in an FDA-regulated facility. However, the FDA cannot regulate dietary supplements and thus can’t verify the safety or efficacy of its claims.
The supplement claims to aid healthy weight reduction by boosting your metabolism and stabilizing your insulin levels. Other benefits GOLO claims are increased energy, decreased hunger, and reduced stress and anxiety.
Seven natural plant-based ingredients and three minerals are contained in the formulation, including:
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Chromium
- Rhodiola extract
- Inositol
- Berberine extract
- Gardenia extract
- Banaba extract
- Salacia extract
- Apple extract
The FDA typically recognizes these compounds as safe. Many of the minerals and ingredients in Release are not present in sufficient quantities to reverse mineral deficiency or increase effectiveness. Apple extract, which contains fiber, is the last ingredient listed in the custom blend, indicating that it is present at a lower concentration.
It’s important to have enough of these minerals, but they aren’t anything special nor do they result in weight loss. Although they’re generally safe, be careful when taking the supplement. Especially if you’re taking medication for a health condition like diabetes.
In fact, it’s likely unnecessary to take a supplement to improve insulin sensitivity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), insulin resistance can be reversed by increasing physical exercise, reducing weight, avoiding high blood sugar levels, controlling stress, and getting sufficient sleep.
GOLO Costs
The plan itself is free, yet the supplement costs money. The monthly cost of GOLO depends on how much of their Release supplement you take. Your weight loss goals will determine the amount.
But to give you an idea of costs, one to three bottles of Release cost between $59.99 and $119.85.
