Entertainment

Here's How Zac Efron Tricked His Body Into Craving Healthy Food For 'Baywatch'

by Courtney Livingston
REX/Shutterstock

In case you haven't heard, Zac Efron is starring in the new "Baywatch" film that's coming out on May 26.

The new trailer boasts Zac Efron as an Olympic swimmer turned lifeguard, looking more toned and muscular than ever before.

Efron recently told Men's Fitness that he trained for 10 weeks to get ready for the film. He worked out five to six days a week, and sometimes even twice per day.

But that's not where he stopped.

At first, I assumed his body transformation took loads of hard work in the gym, but it turns out, it took more than just time at the gym.

In addition to his intense workouts, he paired his fitness regimen with strict diet.

You can even pop over to his Instagram to check out some of his drool-worthy eats.

So, what exactly did Zac Efron eat to get so lean and buff?

The diet is extremely low-sugar, low-carb, with an emphasis on fully organic whole foods.

Efron told Men's Fitness, “After a while your body stops craving junk food and you look forward to these meals."

He continued, saying,

There's this trigger that happens after two or three weeks of dieting and eating healthy food, where your body switches its primary energy source from burning mainly carbohydrates to burning fat. And when it switches over, all your cravings change. You go, 'Holy cow, I want kale and vinaigrette shredded with beets and a little bit of sweet potato!'

Sound crazy? Well, he's right!

The less junk food you eat, the less sugar and unhealthy food you'll crave. The more you eat nutritious foods, the less tendencies you'll have to gorge on those unhealthy cheat meals.

Tanya Zuckerbrot MS, RD, founder of the F-Factor Diet, told SELF, "There's science that supports why the cravings minimize, and there are studies that support that when you start eating healthier, you start craving healthier foods."

When you eat junk food such as refined carbs, which include white bread, cakes, pasta and white rice, your body readily absorbs them, causing spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels.

Over time, your body becomes addicted to this sugar because it gives you a feel-good feeling, thanks to the brain chemicals dopamine and serotonin.

You end up become addicted to this feel-good feeling, and your body wants more of it.

According to Zuckerbrot, "When people stop eating carbs or sugars or some of these refined foods or junk foods, the first few days they go through withdrawal. They don't feel well — they feel weak, tired, shaky, cranky."

While going through sugar withdrawal can be excruciating at first, there is hope.

You can kick those cravings by sticking to a high-fiber diet that's full of complex carbs, rather than refined ones.

Complex carbs include whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These carbs break down slowly, unlike refined carbs.

And by incorporating high-fiber foods into your diet, this helps the body release glucose more evenly and gradually, taking longer to digest.

"When that blood sugar spike isn't experienced, the subsequent cravings aren't experienced either," said Zuckerbrot.

Oh, and as SELF mentioned, your taste buds replenish themselves every eleven days, so after just a short bit of time, you'll have a whole new tongue that is untouched by sugary foods.

As your body becomes accustomed to eating healthy foods, you cravings will slowly but surely diminish.

So, cut out those sugary foods and white carbs, and you just might find yourself craving beets, kale and sweet potato, just like Zac Efron.