What It Is
The grapefruit diet has been around a surprisingly long time — since at least the 1930s. It's infamous for its short-term, quick weight-loss results and has survived the test of time, being circulated by word of mouth, online and in book form.
The supposed secret to the grapefruit diet is based on an alleged "magical" ingredient in the fruit that triggers fat burning. Unfortunately, the weight that is lost is primarily fluids and not fat, and so generally returns as soon as the dieter stops the diet.
Most versions of the grapefruit diet promise a 3kg weight loss during the 12-day diet. Dieters who want more than 12 days of monotony must wait two days before starting the diet again.
What you can eat
There are numerous versions of the grapefruit diet, but the majority require a small variety of foods to be eaten at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just before bed. Dieters are encouraged to drink black coffee and plenty of water throughout the day.
Sample meal plan:
- Breakfast — two eggs, two slices of bacon, black coffee, half a grapefruit or 235ml of grapefruit juice
- Lunch — salad with salad dressing, unlimited meat, and half a grapefruit or 235ml of grapefruit juice
- Dinner — green vegetables (except starchy ones such as peas, beans, corn, sweet potatoes) or salad, unlimited meat or fish, and half a grapefruit or 235ml of grapefruit juice
- Bedtime snack — glass of skim milk
In the grapefruit diet you can use all the butter and salad dressing you desire and prepare foods in any method, including fried. Grapefruit juice must be unsweetened. Any food or beverage not listed on the diet is not allowed. Snacking is only permitted after dinner. Drink about two litres of water daily. Eat all of the approved foods.
How it works
This low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein diet is another low-calorie diet averaging around 1000 calories in most versions. Unfortunately, there are no explanations for how the mysterious grapefruit enzyme works and why it is only contained in grapefruit and not other citrus fruits. In fact, there have been no scientific studies to date to substantiate grapefruit's power to burn fat.
While grapefruit is a very nutritious low-energy fruit loaded with vitamin C and fibre, realistically it is not a mysterious fat burner. The low-GI, high-fibre, and low-calorie nature of the fruit may reduce insulin levels and help dieters feel full and so eat fewer calories.
For more information of the diet visit www.grapefruit-diet-plan.org.
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