Is the Grapefruit Diet Effective?

You may have heard of at least one friend bragging about weight loss while on the Grapefruit Diet, which begs the question – is the Grapefruit Diet effective or is weight loss on this diet just a coincidence? We take a look at this diet more closely to get the skinny on what some people consider the diet all-star.

According to WebMD, the Grapefruit Diet has been around for over 70 years and also goes by the name of the “Mayo Diet.” It restricts calories to about 800-1000 calories daily, and those on the diet can only pick from approved foods. Each meal, however, involves an 8 ounce serving of unsweetened grapefruit juice or a ½ of grapefruit. Dieters are encouraged to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, black coffee, and interestingly enough, are not prohibited from eating fat-laden foods such as butter or salad dressing.

A study backed by the Florida Department of Citrus 3 years ago, involved adding a ½ grapefruit to each meal of a small group of individuals for 12 weeks. The result? a weight loss on average of 3 pounds over that time span; however, it should also be noted that the individuals being studied were exercising a little and were on a calorie restricted diet.

So is there something mystical in grapefruit that helps burn fat?

There is no evidence to support this theory; however, because grapefruit is a low glycemic index food, which is believed to push down insulin levels, it may be aiding in helping dieters feel less hungry and more satisfied.

According to Medical News Today, it is believed that insulin’s job is not to help you lose weight, but it may help in adjusting the rate at which we metabolize fats: the lower the insulin – the higher the rate of fat breakdown — perhaps.

Another important note regarding the Grapefruit Diet is that most dieters who lose weight on this diet are primarily losing water, not fat. Additionally, any weight lost on this diet is often gained back soon thereafter – once the diet is halted.

The Grapefruit Diet, therefore, is not a lifestyle change that will lead to a healthy, long-term diet, which will help maintain a certain weight. Instead, it is merely a quick fix fad diet that is used by dieters as a speedy way to get into an old pair of jeans or a certain sized bathing suit for the summer. But the results often do not last, which is something dieters should be aware of.

Quick fixes are easy, but they usually aren’t the best choices especially when it comes to your health.