The grapefruit diet is a diet geared at weight loss and which is solely built around the grapefruit. It is a diet rich in protein and which primarily focuses on the grapefruit juice or the fruit itself in each meal. The diet whose goal is rapid weight loss is a diet plan of 12 days .It has been used for close to eighty years. The daily caloric intake is not more than 1000 calories. The grapefruit is a wonderful fruit rich in natural simple carbohydrates, vitamin C and fiber. However, it is unwise to use this diet as the only basis of weight loss.
Does the diet plan work?
Due to the restriction of calories, the grapefruit diet indeed works. The plan promises fast results; as much as losing up to ten pounds in twelve days because of the fat burning enzymes present in grapefruits. These results come even when eating meals normally at the normal times of the day.
Even then, grapefruit may be incorporated in any type of diet because of the health benefits associated with it. Calorie cutting is however the basis of successfully losing weight.
Examples of the Grapefruit Diet plan
- Breakfast-1/2 piece grapefruit or grapefruit juice (eight ounces), two bacon slices and two boiled eggs.
- Lunch- Salad dressing and any quantity of meat, half a piece of grapefruit or eight ounces grapefruit juice
- Dinner- Any type of meat prepared in whatever way, green and red vegetables, tea or coffee and eight ounces grapefruit juice or half piece grapefruit.
- Bedtime Snack- Eight ounces of skimmed milk
Pros & Cons of the grapefruit diet
Pros
The major advantage of this diet is the results it gives. Most people find the results of the rapid weight loss to be quite encouraging particularly at special events when they desire to look great. Others have found it to be a beneficial kick-start in finding another program in maintaining the weight loss after finishing the twelve day diet. Incorporating foods of high nutrients like grapefruit is not only a healthy and smart choice for weight loss but also for the general health as well. Vitamin C is quite useful for boosting the immune system.
Cons
There is no research that backs claims of magically burning fat. The low calorie intake is the core of the diet and weight loss would still occur even without taking the grapefruit. It is not realistic to burn 10-12 pounds in less than two weeks as this would not only mean the loss of muscle, water and perhaps some fat.
While fresh grapefruit or grapefruit juice may be a part of a healthy balanced diet, the Food and Drug Administration has established that it may interfere with certain medications including:
- Statin drugs used for lowering cholesterol
- Nifedipine drug used in treating blood pressure
- Antihistamines like allegra
- Antianxiety drugs like BuSpar
The juice from the grapefruit tends to interfere with the drugs’ action. For instance, drinking grapefruit juice while under statin drugs increases the drugs’ rate of absorption in the bloodstream. Consequently, this may result to adverse complications such as kidney and liver problems.
For other drugs like antihistamines, grapefruit juice may minimize the quantity of drug absorbed hence reducing the effectiveness of the drug.
There is a limiting scope in taking the drug. While it may be possible for some people to be on the plan for twelve days, it may be difficult for others to stick to eating the same kind of foods for this long.