Usher’s new tour diet ‘harmful’, health experts say

World-famous singer Usher has spoken candidly about his preparation before hitting the road for his next tour, where he is set to play a whopping 80 concerts in six countries. The pop star is known for his high-energy, highly choreographed concerts, which have left many curious about his fitness routine and diet to get in such impeccable shape, especially after the singer went shirtless in during his Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year.

Fans got more than they bargained for when Yeah! The hitmaker revealed that she combines her intense workout and dance regime with not eating anything on Wednesdays. He told the Wall Street Journal: “I usually try to start around 11pm the day before, then I go all day on Wednesday just drinking water.”

Dietitian and author of Meals that Heal, Dr Carolyn Williams, called Usher’s claims “harmful”, telling the Daily Mail that the 24-hour fast itself “isn’t that alarming”, but when paired with exercise intense physical activity, could be harmful. She advised: “If you’re going to fast for 24 hours, you need to ease up on the physical activity. Fasting all day with just water and trying to stick to this training schedule and everything, that’s not what’s generally recommended.”

Intermittent fasting is a well-known diet plan, but Dr. Williams noted that, taken to this extent, it can cause headaches and “an electrolyte imbalance,” while research around the method has found mixed results. Some research claims it can help with weight loss, while other studies link skipping meals to a higher risk of heart disease and cancer.

Elsewhere in his diet claims, the 45-year-old ditched coffee and breakfast for celery juice and a unique mix of lemon water. When it comes to fitness, the energetic pop star opts to start her day with some soothing morning yoga that “activates” her organs while sitting outside in the heat, but none of these seemingly more doable routines have gotten the nod the expert.

While celery juice is low in calories and high in nutrients such as potassium folate and vitamins A, C and K, Dr Williams noted that it is not “necessarily superior to other vegetables”, but acknowledged that would at least hydrate the singer. As for his unique drink of choice, hot water with lemon, ginger and cayenne pepper, the health expert slammed it as “nutritionally useless” but not harmful.