The Grapefruit Diet Review & Information

The traditional Grapefruit Diet gained widespread popularity in the 1980s. The weight loss plan involved a dramatic reduction in calorie intake—dieters were encouraged to consume no more than 800 calories per day.

The main thrust of the diet involved eating large amounts of "fat-burning" grapefruit in order to rev up one’s metabolism. Dieters could eat protein each day—mostly boiled eggs—an occasional piece of dry toast, and as much black coffee as one’s heart desired.

Some nutrition experts, however, scoffed at the diet, saying that the fat-burning qualities of grapefruit were more myth than reality. They maintained that any weight loss on the Grapefruit Diet was the result of restricted calorie intake, rather than the supposed medicinal qualities of grapefruit.

Makes sense to me.

However, a recent study indicates that adding grapefruit and grapefruit juice to your diet can enhance weight loss. The research, conducted by the Nutrition and Medical Research Centre at Scripps Clinic in San Diego, California, demonstrates that you can lose weight with the aid of grapefruit—without changing the rest of your diet. Even the leader of the study was surprised at the results.

In the study, 100 people suffering from obesity were sectioned off into three groups. Group one ate half a grapefruit before each meal, while group two drank grapefruit juice prior to meals. The third group, the control group, consumed neither grapefruit nor grapefruit juice. Twelve weeks later, individuals who ate grapefruit with each meal lost an average of 3.6 pounds, while those who drank grapefruit juice shed 3.3 pounds. The control group lost an average of only a half pound.

As an added bonus, those who consumed grapefruit or grapefruit juice demonstrated lower levels of insulin, a hormone responsible for the regulation of blood sugar levels. As a result, they were at lower risk for diabetes and stroke.

The theory behind a grapefruit-oriented diet is that the fruit contains plant compounds that cut insulin levels, enabling weight loss to occur. This makes sense, since high insulin levels can make you feel hungry, causing you to increase the portions you eat.

However, some nutritional experts recommend exercising caution in interpreting the results of the study. They say that they believe that grapefruit is not characterized by an special qualities that would promote weight loss. They add that the participants in the study might have been concentrating on their food intake and their exercise routine, making them more likely to lose weight than the average person.

Yet, nutritionists also point out that consuming more grapefruit should not harm your health and can help improve the overall quality of your diet. Since many nutrition guidelines recommend eating five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, it is perfectly reasonable to make grapefruit part of your daily diet.

Still, the Grapefruit Diet of the ‘80s appears to have lost popularity over the years. The calorie requirements are often considered too restrictive, and the diet lacks balance. Also, the diet regimen itself can be tiring. A number of diet experts say that the best way to lose weight is to consume a variety of foods—not to limit yourself to large portions of one individual food.