Grapefruit Diet

Introduction: Grapefruit Diet

The grapefruit diet is a quick weight loss diet built around one food - the grapefruit. There are a variety of variations of the grapefruit diet, but they are generally based on unproven assertion that grapefruit has super fat burning qualities when it is combined with protein. There is currently no evidence that grapefruits have any special fat burning qualities. Most grapefruit diets stress eating 1/2 grapefruit or 8 ounces grapefruit juice three times a day. The grapefruit diet tends to be very low calorie (800-1000 calories per day), low carbohydrate, and allows dieters to choose from only a small variety of foods. Most versions of the grapefruit diet promise a drastic weight loss of 10 pounds in 12 days, which is mostly due to the severe restriction of calories, not to any "special" properties of the grapefruit. In addition, most of this fast weight loss is due to fluid loss, not fat loss. Despite this, grapefruits are a healthy addition to most diets and may be of help in a well balanced diet plan because they are full of fiber, which can help dieters feel full and eat fewer calories. They also have a low glycemic index, which means they produce only small fluctuations in our blood sugar and insulin levels.

In general, grapefruit diet plans do not provide any strategies for a healthy, well balanced eating patterns that permit steady gradual long-term weight loss and long-term maintenance of weight loss. The grapefruit diet also tends to slow down the body's metabolism (calorie burning ability), a result of the starvation effects that severe calorie restriction puts on the body. Because of this, dieters tend to regain the weight they lost, often even more than the weight they lost. As with any diet plan, optimal results for health and weight loss and control are achieved when a well balanced diet plan that encourages gradual weight loss is combined with a sensible exercise program and healthy lifestyle changes. All diets have the potential to be harmful for some people, so consultation with a health care provider before starting a diet plan and exercise program is recommended.

Grapefruit Diet: Other Names

Other names for this diet (Grapefruit Diet) include:

Mayo Diet
Hollywood Diet

Conditions Associated with Grapefruit Diet

Conditions associated with Grapefruit Diet include:

Foods Excluded Or Restricted From Grapefruit Diet

The following foods may be restricted or excluded from Grapefruit Diet:

-Many foods are restricted or excluded from the grapefruit diet including
Fruits other than grapefruit
Peas
Potatoes
Beans
Corn
Sweet potatoes
Carbohydrates
Bread
Pasta
Rice
Sugar
Dairy products

Foods Focused On For Grapefruit Diet

The following foods may be focused on as part of Grapefruit Diet:

Grapefruit
Grapefruit juice
Small to moderate amounts of protein and fats
Small amounts of red and green vegetables

Grapefruit Diet: Potential Risks Or Complications

The following are potential risks or complications of the diet (Grapefruit Diet):

Nutritional deficiencies
Osteoporosis due to a lack of calcium in diet
Ketoacidosis. This can result from extreme calorie and/or carbohydrate restricted diets, which can lead to dangerously high levels of acids called ketones that build up in the blood and can poison the body
Kidney damage
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interfere with the absorption of some medications, resulting in decreased effectiveness or ineffectiveness
Weight loss diets are not recommended for pregnant or nursing women
Rebound weight gain