Nutrition specialist Dr. Melina Jampolis said McCotry's regimen isn't as bad as the horror stories of people chain-smoking to stave off hunger or eking out a meager existence on cayenne-pepper-flavored water.

CNN: The #NYFW diet: Part of the job?

Add the water, celery, onion, and pepper, cover, and turn the heat on high.

NPR: Recipes: 'The Summer Shack Cookbook'

He placed the fish with the oil, herbs (fresh thyme, sea salt and white pepper) and garlic in a ziplock bag and poached it in boiling water.

FORBES: Barbados, The Rum Island

If you grind it with a hot pepper we call rocoto, and you put garlic and a little bit of salt and water, you get a blended mixture that is very good with boiled potatoes.

NPR: Getting the Taste of the Tamarillo