The Grapefruit Diet

As the name suggests, the Grapefruit Diet is focused on the supposed benefits of eating lots of grapefruit.

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Type - Quick Weight Loss

Are special products required - No

Is eating out possible? - Yes

Is the plan family friendly? - No

Do you have to buy a book? - Yes

Is the diet easy to maintain? - No

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So how does it work?...

The central theory behind this diet is that there are special enzymes in grapefruit that stimulate the body to burn fat. It is also a very low calorie diet plan, only allowing up to 800 calories per day.


Because the number of calories is restrictively low, this is marketed for quick weight loss due to the very swift results.


The low calorie count and grapefruit enzymes are also supposed to help your body lose water and reduce bloating, however it should be noted that this is only illusory weight loss since it is only water.

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The Diet Plan...

The Grapefruit Diet demands a strict calorie counting regimen requiring you to stay under a very low 800 calories per day and to help you accomplish this, you have to eat a half grapefruit before every meal – the bulk of this citrus fruit helps fill your stomach so that you feel less hungry when eating your small meals.


Meals on this diet plan must restrict dairy, and most fruits and vegetables other than grapefruit. You are not allowed snacks on this diet, but you are allowed coffee or black tea with meals.

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Is it good for you?...

Despite the fact that this diet is all about grapefruit, they provide no scientific evidence to back up the idea that grapefruit has any special fat burning properties. The Grapefruit Diet’s success is based on the very low calorie count, not any specific power of grapefruit, other than the fact that it adds bulk to your stomach so you will feel slightly less hungry than without it.


A huge criticism of the Grapefruit Diet plan is that 800 calories is low enough to slow down your metabolism so that weight loss will happen quickly at first, and then your body will adjust to only getting 800 calories, and the weight loss will stop or reverse itself.


When you drop the calorie count so low so quickly, your body panics – thinking there is a food shortage – and starts burning muscle for energy and storing fat for what your body thinks might be a long period of starvation.


This quick weight loss diet plan is so restrictive that you will likely be low in energy and be in a constant bad mood. Much of the dramatic visible results are due to water loss, which is not true fat loss.


The Grapefruit Diet is also unhealthy in its lack of balance, specifically the lack of vegetables and fruits which would provide a much needed source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.


An approach that would be more effective long term would aim for slower weight loss by not restricting to such an unrealistically low calorie count.

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Example Day...

Breakfast
• 1/2 grapefruit

Lunch
• 1/2 grapefruit
• Egg and mixed salad with tomatoes and carrots
• Slice of wholemeal toast

Dinner
• 1/2 grapefruit
• Eggs, lettuce, chopped tomatoes and dressing
• Black tea or coffee

Snacks
• Not allowed with this diet plan

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