Grapefruit Diet

Dating back to the 1930s the grapefruit diet is perhaps one of the oldest diets on the current weight loss radar. While there are a variety of versions to this regime there does remain one constant: with all three meals you must eat half a grapefruit.

While the regime itself restricts daily caloric intake to a mere 800 calories a day, advocates of the diet say it is actually the food combination that really burn off the fat, not just the calorie restriction. Dieters still enjoy protein, vegetables and even butter, but are told to steer clear of breads, pastas, and desserts among other typical dieting no-nos. Actually it’s the grapefruit that is apparently the wonder food in this diet regime. Grapefruit has fat-burning enzymes that are supposed to kick start your metabolism and enable you to lose the 10lbs in just 12 days that the diet purports.

Dieters can choose from the juicy red, white or pink colored grapefruits, all equally beneficial in weight loss. They are low in calories and sodium; high in potassium, and high in fat burning enzymes. Grapefruits are also about 90% water, this means that we fill up with minimal calories and the water helps flush away excess water weight retained from the common daily high sodium diet.

This diet generally lasts between 12-18 days, but should absolutely not go longer than that. The severe calorie restriction does not provide sufficient energy or nutrients for long-term use, and as such dieters should also not be exercising for the duration of the diet. The combination of exercise with low energy intake is a train wreck waiting to happen. Individuals will most likely feel light headed from the low glucose level and even run the risk of fainting or passing out mid-workout.

The diet also raises a few red flags in the nutrition world, most of which say it is way too high in saturated fat and cholesterol intake both of which contribute to heart disease and cancer.

Certain pharmaceutical drugs combined with grapefruit juice are also known to become more potent, so individuals need to exercise caution before incorporating grapefruit into their diet regimes. Compounds in grapefruit juice slow the normal detoxification and metabolism processes in the intestines and liver, which hinders the body’s ability to breakdown and eliminate these drugs. Individuals using medication from the statin group such as Zocor, Lipitor, Pravachol, Mevacor, Crestor, and Lescol and even users of Viagra, should steer clear of grapefruit consumption.

Grapefruit Diet Sample Menu

Breakfast:

• 2 eggs boiled
• 2 slices of bacon
• 1/2 grapefruit or 8 oz. grapefruit juice (no sugar)

Lunch:

• 1/2 grapefruit or 8 oz. grapefruit juice (no sugar)
• Green Salad
• Any style meat in any amount

Dinner:

• 1/2 grapefruit or 8 oz. grapefruit juice (no sugar)
• Salad with a red or green vegetable cooked in butter and/or spices
• Meat or Fish cooked any way.
• Coffee or Tea (1 cup)

Snack:

• 8 oz cup of skim milk