The grapefruit diet is one of the earliest known Hollywood fad diets. It dates back to the 1930s, and many Hollywood stars of the time swore by it. It became part of xerox lore, faxed from machine to machine, in the 1970’s. The diet is attributed to the Mayo Clinic, which clearly states that it has nothing to do with diet and that the diet is not good.
The grapefruit diet is essentially like the Atkins diet with the addition of a grapefruit before each meal. There was no cheating on this diet only three meals a day and no in between meals snacks. Supposedly a person on this diet could lose 10 pounds in only 10 days. The distribution was just as far fetched no weight loss for four days then five pounds lost all on the fifth day. Supposedly grapefruit contains enzymes that destroy fat, but no study has ever proven that to be true.
In 2004 a scientific study determined that it is possible that the grapefruit diet helps people lose weight. 1/2 grapefruit with each meal helped people lose 3.6 pounds in only 12 weeks. People drinking the same serving size of grapefruit juice lost slightly less weight. Many of the participants lost more than 10 pounds in 12 weeks. It was believed that eating grapefruit resulted in decreased insulin levels, which in turn resulted in less stored fat. But the weight loss may have also been due to increased levels of exercise.
Here are the rules for the grapefruit diet:
- Eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day, this is a must.
- Stop eating when full.
- Eat all the food listed at each meal, skipping food interferes with fat burning.
- Grapefruit is a catalyst that starts fat burning. Do not change the amount of grapefruit.
- One cup of coffee can be consumed at each meal.
- No snacking.
- Butter is OK.
- Avoid sweets and starches such as bread and potatoes.
- Meat and vegetables are fine.
- It’s important to eat into you’re full because the more you eat the more you will lose.
- Follow the diet 12 days on, 2 days off, 12 days on etc.
- Grapefruit with each meal is or 18 ounces of juice.
The grapefruit diet may be for you.
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