Eating Clay to Lose Weight?

Say it isn't so... there's a new way for people to lose weight.  Clay.  This is disturbing on many levels.

Zoe Kravitz Consumed Clay, Dropped 20 Pounds to Play Anorexic, Bulimic - US Weekly

What's even more bothersome is that there are directions online about how to eat clay safely to satisfy hunger.  And they're easy to find.  But it's a specific kind of clay and only a teaspoon.  Sadly, you know there are people who are going to be inspired by using clay instead of buckling down and counting calories.

Zoe Kravitz is not the only actress doing this.  Actress Shailene Woodley said she eats clay to cleanse... advice she picked up in Africa.

Eating Clay: Absurd New Health Trend or All-Natural Cleanse?

Shailene Woodley also mentions oil pulling.

I saw so much about oil pulling on Facebook and a few TV shows, so I tried it.  I put a teaspoon of coconut oil into my mouth and swirled it around for 20 minutes.  What I heard about oil pulling was that it pulls the toxins out of your mouth and makes your teeth white.  I did it a few times.

Then, I talked to my son's oral surgeon and asked several questions about oil pulling.  He discouraged the oil pulling.  He finally said, "I don't get my medical advice from Facebook."  Point taken.

So, before you start investing in clay or oil pulling, do yourself a favor.  Eat healthy food, brush your teeth and floss regularly.  Don't start climbing on the trend wagon... sounds like the trend wagon is full enough already.