The Mojito Diet

September 17, 2018
Rivera, a physician at Miami’s Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Univision’s chief medical correspondent, delivers a Latin twist on standard diet fare. He tries hard to make it distinctive (Does exercise feel like drudgery? Take up salsa dancing) and incorporates plenty of “Mojito Diet Success Story” profiles. Nonetheless, this book’s regimen is solidly based on an old standard, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) plan, introduced over 20 years ago. What Rivera has done is incorporate a handful of “important new lessons... not necessarily reflected in the original DASH guidelines,” such as the importance of heart-healthy fats and the health benefits of nuts. Readers will find a plan that features an initial “grain drop” to jump start results and provide energy, followed by “functional fasting intervals.” The big reward is—not surprisingly—mojitos twice, and later three times, weekly. The book includes ample menu plans, with an emphasis on food variety and specific serving sizes. A generous recipe guide features everything from a cucumber-basil mojito to “Dr. Juan’s Salsa” recipe. Rivera’s approach is appealing, but perhaps not unique enough to attract a whole new dieting public.