This eating plan, which is also called the Hollywood diet, has been known since the 1930s. It has several variations. Some of them are very low in calories. Others limit consumption of carbohydrates. But all versions encourage eating grapefruits or drinking grapefruit juice with every meal. The most popular variant of the grapefruit diet lasts twelve days and promises that you will lose up to ten pounds.
The diet is based on the premise that grapefruits contain special enzymes1 which promote burning of body fat. Thus eating them each time when you have a meal is the most essential condition.
For many years, dieticians were sure that this claim is erroneous, but in 2004 Florida Citrus Department conducted the study that confirmed the efficiency of grapefruits for losing weight. Participants who ate grapefruits before each meal and did physical exercises lost about three – four pounds over twelve years. But one should take into account that all of them followed a healthy diet.
This plan encourages eating foods high in protein and fat, like meat and eggs. Dieters should drink much water and exercise on a regular basis. They are also recommended to avoid products containing much carbohydrate.
You do not have to count calories (though some variations of the diet limit their consumption to 1200 cal per a day) and are allowed to eat usual meals. After following the diet for twelve days you should rest for no less than two days.
The diet promises losing up to ten pounds in just twelve days. But it is hardly possible if you continue eating as much calories as you want. At the same time, vitamin C is a good protection for you immune system.
Most dieticians still consider it to be a fad diet.
You should realize that losing weight in such a rapid pace is not healthy. Moreover, the results will not be lasting and you will probably regain the lost pounds.
The diet can be dangerous for nursing or pregnant women and people with chronic diseases. Anyway, you’d better consult a doctor before starting the grapefruit diet.
Don’t forget that grapefruit interacts with many medications, like birth control pills, antihistamines2, statins3, etc.
The grapefruit diet can also provoke nutritional imbalance and cause numerous side effects.
Besides grapefruits, the diet recommends eating foods rich in protein and fat, like fish, meat, cheese, dairy, eggs, butter, etc. You must also drink no less than eight glasses of pure water daily. One cup of coffee is allowed per day.
The diet can be adapted for vegetarians. They have to replace animal sources of protein and fat with vegetable ones.
When you follow the grapefruit diet, you must cut back on carbohydrate. It means that you may not eat sweet potato, bakery, desserts, etc. You should also avoid white onion, celery and some other foods.
Many people claim that this diet has helped them to lose several pounds but most probably they lose more muscle and water than fat. Thus nutritionists recommend choosing another eating plan.
The grapefruit diet is a 12-day plan. Here are basic rules for dieters:
Below you will see a sample one day menu for the grapefruit diet.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snack
You are allowed to eat the following vegetables: carrots, red onions, lettuce, green onions, cucumbers, spinach, bell peppers, cabbage, radishes, broccoli, and peas. You may cook meat and eggs in any way.
Don’t eat foods rich in carbohydrate, potato, white onion, and celery.