Meet the Trending Diet That Actually Wants You to Eat Chocolate and Wine

Okay, so 2016 is the year that you’re finally going to learn how to keep those New Year’s resolutions, right? Just right after this one glass of red wine… But wait. Before that guilt rolls in, we have some news. What if we told you there was a way to keep that unofficial sommelier training going while also beginning your journey toward a healthier lifestyle? No, this isn’t some sort of cruel joke. Introducing the Sirtfood Diet.

Now, before you go to the grocery store and load your cart full of Two-Buck Chuck and Hershey’s Kisses, it’s not quite as ideal a diet as that. Here’s the lowdown: The Sirtfood diet is centered around sirtuins, a class of proteins that can be found in food. Research has shown that food with high amounts of sirtuin can help increase muscle and burn fat. Basically, “sirtfoods” are foods that activate these particular genes and get them working for you.

So, what sorts of foods include this secret ingredient? Here are a few: green tea, dark chocolate (over 85% cocoa), turmeric, kale, blueberries, parsley, capers, citrus fruits, apples, red wine, buckwheat, celery, chili, coffee, extra virgin olive oil, Medjool dates, red chicory, red onion, arugula, strawberries and walnuts.

The idea isn’t to eat a diet that consists solely of just these foods, but rather to incorporate them in your meals as often as you can. For example, a smoothie consisting of kale, blueberries, strawberries and a dash of turmeric would be ideal. Additionally, this might be a solid option for all you java lovers out there, since this is one diet that actually encourages that morning cup of joe. To learn about all the ins and outs of the diet, be sure to grab The Sirtfood Diet ($10) by Aidan Goggins.

What new health regimen are you trying in 2016? Share with us on Twitter @britandco.

(Photo via Getty)