The Real Grapefruit Diet
The so-called grapefruit diet is one of those mythic fad diets that seem to come and go every few years. It is a terrible diet - very low in calories, nutrient deficient, and cannot be sustained beyond a matter of days. You might lose some water, some muscle, and a bit of fat - then gain it all back again.
The Scripps Clinic made a press release claiming that the humble grapefruit does assist in fat loss.
The 12-week pilot study, led by Dr. Ken Fujioka, monitored weight and metabolic factors, such as insulin secretion, of the 100 men and women who participated in the Scripps Clinic "Grapefruit Diet" study.
On average, participants who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost 3.6 pounds, while those who drank a serving of grapefruit juice three times a day lost 3.3 pounds. However, many patients in the study lost more than 10 pounds.
However the study seemed isolated, and it was unclear just how much support came from the Florida citrus industry body.
A further study has been undertaken, and has found that red grapefruit "significantly decreased blood levels of triglycerides." The grapefruit was consumed by patients who "had undergone coronary bypass surgery and had found that Zocor, or simvastatin, was ineffective." (to be published in this journal)
...the study's lead author, said that eating red grapefruit would "most probably" help anyone with high cholesterol, not just heart patients.
The star ruby grapefruit has a yellow peel with a red blush and an intensely red pulp. It is very sweet, and has few or no seeds.
So what does this prove? That the grapefruit, like many other fruits and vegetables has excellent healthful properties.
There will, however, never be a quick-fix diet based on a single food. That's a fantasy.
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Created / Updated: February 7, 2012
I think you have to be careful though, because grapefruit juice and some medications don't mix.
ReplyI did the grapefruit diet about a year ago. I was 318 pounds. In 8 months I got down to 214 pounds. Without excersise. When I finally lost all that weight I started doing cardio in the mornings. 1 hour walk. My skin is not hanging. After 1 year I've only gained about 40 pounds so I'm getting ready to start my diet this coming saturday. I will post pictures of the before and after later on. I've tried many diets and this really works.
Replyhi my name is ashley and im 23. im going to try the grapefruit diet im starting monday 1/12/09. i dont have much support... my goal is to be down to 150 from my current 240. i would like some advice on how to keep my skin from "HANGING" i need to feel better about myself and i want to be able to play with my 2 yr old son for more than 5 minutes without getting exhausted! so if you would be willing to share some advice i would be SOOOO GREATFUL! contact me back on my space please!
ReplyI did the grapefruit diet back in 2003 i was 220 and i was trying to enlist in the military. I went on this diet for three months and got down to a size 9 from a size 22. I was feeling sexier than ever and my confidence went sky high. My recruiter wanted me down to 170 to sign me, but i got down to 175 and found out i was expecting my first son, so i gained all of the weight back and b4 i could lose it again i had my second son. But it has been two years since then and I plan to enlist on March 1.2010 and I will be starting this diet again Dec.9,2009. It really works i encourage any young mother/ young lady who feels that their weight is holding them down, to go on this diet for 2 months and i promise ur self-esteem will climb and the weight will fall of and once u drop it just start excercising to tone ur body to how u want to look.
Replyokay i have a question on the diet can u can cheese and pickles and do you have to drink the tea or coffee because i don't drink either
ReplyI have ben on the grapefruit diet now for about 11 days and i have only lost 5 lbs do u think i should have lost more by now? please email me back and let me know if the weight loss was slow at first because iam getting annoyed because everyone tells me they lose alot of weight but i am not and i dont know what iam doing wrong thanks so much cara
ReplyCongrats on your weight loss. I'm 5'7 weighing in at 168 Lbs with a goal weight loss of 30 lbs. I've done some reading on the grapefruit diet and I hope it works for me. I'm over weight and unhappy. Please help! Thank you and God Bless You!!
Replyhey i saw you wrote about the grape fruit diet , i want to start it but im scared it will not work ...how much weght can i lose in 2 weeks? do i need to extricize what can i eat ?
Replytried it when i was 285 got dow to 220 its works..
Replyive been trying to find the menu for the egg and grapfruit diet lose 20lbs in 2wks all i have been able to find are the modified ones do you have the menu that you can send me please!!!!!!!!
Replylook under "Mayo Clinic Diet" there should be a printable version. Good Luck:)
ReplyI just started this diet 4 days ago. I love it, I am never hungry.... I have 10 pounds to lose hope to meet my goal quickly. A very easy diet to follow and inexpensive.
Replysome sites say drink 8oz of grapefruit juice others sasy 4oz how much did u drank i drank the juice b cause i dont like the grapefruit itself
ReplyTHAT IS SO GOOD TO LOSE THE WEIGHT LIKE THAT I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS WITH TRYING THE GRAPEFRUIT BUT I JUST STARTED BECAUSE I WEIGH 300 POUNDS I NEED TO REALLY GET THE WEIGHT OFF SO IM STICKING TO THE GRAPEFRUIT
ReplyThat's true... I read that you are to take meds 35-45 after consuming GF.
ReplyWhat about a diet based around fiber?
ReplyThere is a new one coming out by Steven Schnur MD, "The Reality Diet" or is fiber not a single food?
Interesting how red grapefruits get more respect than their white counterparts. I wonder, if red tastes better and has better health benefits, why the heck would anyone eat a white grapefruit?
ReplyGreg: fiber is not "a" food. Whole fruits and vegetables and whole grains (oatmeal, bulgur, barley, brown rice, etc) are excellent sources of fiber. Processed foods such as candy and energy bars are not great sources of fiber. For good health, it is recommended you get 20 to 25 g of fiber a day.
ReplyI don't think I made myself clear. I meant fiber being one food or food group -- is that still looking to one source as the clue to weight loss.
ReplyI am having a difficult time explaining today!
I guess I\'m still not getting you, Greg. Fiber is important from a dieting perspective, because foods high in fiber tend to be both bulky yet low in calories. So high-fiber foods tend to help you feel fuller. But it\'s just one component in a healthy diet.
ReplyLet me try this. Take a look at the book I mentioned above on Amazon.com read the description.
ReplyDo you think this wouldbe a valid way of eating?
Dietary fiber is an essential part of any healthy diet. The ADA recommends about 25-30g per day. A number of weight loss books have been based around dietary fiber (such as the F2 plan). The Weight Watchers points system also includes fiber as a factor.
However healthy fat loss is always about a combination of approaches rather than just focusing on a single food group (the "grapefruit" diet being a case in point).
Greg - a brief look at the blurb about the Reality Diet - it looks remarkably similar to the F2 Plan by Audrey Eyton.
ReplyJim- what diet books/ways of eating do you recommend?
ReplyBy the way, not to be offensive but what is your background? Are you a nutritionist/Dr./Average Joe?
Thanks!
To agree with "not so much," eating grapefruit or taking things with grapefruit extract can interfere w/ the absorption of some meds. These include blood pressure drugs and sedatives.
ReplyI'm absolutely an average joe. See the About and Disclaimer pages (on the right sidebar). That will help to explain my POV.
I make it clear that this is a blog - it's full of opinions - which you can take or leave! Hopefully you will find some useful stuff.
ReplyMy mother tried the Grapefruit diet a few years ago, and it made her sick because she wasn't getting enough nutriants. If one would like a diet to jump start their weight-loss program, I recommend the Cabbage Soup Diet. I have done this diet a few times, and each time I did it I lose the maximum weight. In fact after doing the Cabbage Soup Diet, and losing weight, I got pregnant with my son. The good thing with the Cabbage Soup Diet is that it incorporates all of the food groups, so you don't suffer from malnutrition.
ReplyHello...I have an question.Exactly what is the Grapefruit diet? Cabbage Soup? If you could, please e-mail me the details. At siskia89@yahoo.com I am going to be a senior this upcoming fall and I want to be healthy and in good shape for my senior pictures!
Replywhat is a grape fruit diet??? i need to lose some weight badly i'm gettin married in tha fall next year so i'm tryin to find out more about this diet what makes this diet so much more better i tryed all kinds of diet pills and milk shake drink nothing works so you tell me whats so good about your product...please email me back
Replytennis+pro_super_star@yahoo.com
okay felicia tell me more about your diet you tryed how do it work for you and how long did it take to see results and did you feel really hunger i have a sweet tooth to much i love junk cookies cakes pie's and soda i need more water and more juice in my lyfe so whats a really go diet to go on with stravin yourself??
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