Is The Grapefruit Diet A Fad Diet

By Ron C George

One of the popular fad diets in Hollywood was the grapefruit diet. It dates back to the 1930s, and many Hollywood stars of the time swore by it. It remained popular until the mid-1970s, when it became one of the diets that was sent from fax machine to fax machine, creating a phenomenon known as xerox lore. The diet is credited to the Mayo Clinic, which clearly states that it has nothing to do with the diet and that this diet is not healthy.

The grapefruit diet is essentially like the Atkins diet with the addition of a grapefruit before each meal. The diet only allows three meals each day, with no snacking in between meals. 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. It was based on the claim that grapefruit contains some form of fat burning enzymes, something that has never been proven medically.

In 2004 it was proven that the diet may work. 1/2 grapefruit with each meal helped people lose 3.6 pounds in only 12 weeks. Drinking the juice from the grapefruit led to only slightly less weight loss. Some people in the study lost as much as 10 pounds in the 12 week period.

Researchers credited the weight loss to decreased insulin levels caused by eating the grapefruit. But the study didn't limit people to just diet, they also exercised more which may have resulted in the weight loss.

Here's a typical grapefruit diet:

- Drink eight servings of water a day. - Stop eating when you feel full. - Eat all the listed foods at each meal, don't skip food as it interferes with fat burning. - The catalyst to the whole process is grapefruit, so don't cut it. - Drink only up to 1 cup of coffee at meals. - No snacking before or after meals. - You can have Butter that is OK. - No starches or sweets can be eaten. - Meat and vegetables are fine. - It's important to eat into you're full because the more you eat the more you will lose. - Skip two days between each 12 day diet period. - Eat one half grapefruit, or drink 18 ounce glass of grapefruit, at each meal time.

The grapefruit diet may be for you if you like this regimented lifestyle. ut to me you need some flexibility in your diet and at least some foods that you like to eat. - 17273

About the Author:

This article on our health blog is for those that are Looking For The Grapefruit Diet there are numerous things to consider before starting any diet. Check out our in depth articles on numerous diets marketed online such as the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Weight Loss Program and Diet Center.