Who
Oz Garcia is a nutritionist who helps celebs drop those pesky extra pounds before they hit the red carpet.
Backstory
Garcia started out as a fashion photographer and says he became interested in nutrition when he sought treatment for the chronic migraines he has having. After a few classes at the East/West Center for Holistic Health, he claims his headaches vanished and he was hooked on a healthier lifestyle. He went on to study at various nutrition schools (many with dubious-sounding names like the Kushi Institute for Macrobiotics) before returning to the East/West Center as a teacher. In 1981, he opened his own practice, claiming he could improve patients' immunity, anxiety, energy, and overall health by changing what they eat. He's been dispensing advice to the rich and famous ever since.
Of note
A slew of A-listers have sought out Garcia's advice over the years. Russell Simmons, Donna Karan, Winona Ryder, Nicole Miller, Veronica Webb, Ivana Trump, Robert De Niro, Kim Cattrall, Frédéric Fekkai, Paris Hilton, and Hilary Swank have all visited Garcia's Upper West Side Longevity Lounge, where he offers nutritional, medical, and beauty appointments all under one roof. Garcia's advice doesn't come cheap—an hour-long session with Garcia will run you $500. It's not for the faint of heart, either: He prohibits coffee, soda, alcohol, certain fruits (no bananas or oranges), potatoes, wheat, and all soy products.
If you're interested—and looking to save cash—you can always pick up one of his books: He's the author of Look and Feel Fabulous Forever and The Balance; he also co-wrote Sound Mind, Sound Body with celeb-trainer David Kirsch. Building a brand requires more than a few famous clients and a couple of books, of course: In addition to dispensing diet advice, Garcia is a spokesperson for Bath and Body Works, Hanes, and Vitamin Water, a nutritional consultant for Equinox Gyms, markets his own brand of water (it's called OZ Water), and is reportedly planning to open a health-conscious restaurant on the Upper West Side in partnership with David Bouley.
Personal
Garcia lives on the Upper West Side with his Dachshund, Cosmos.
