Grapefruit and Weight Loss: The Grapefruit Diet is Alive and Well!
Thursday February 19, 2004
I don't know about you, but this winter, I've been just binging on grapefruit! It turns out, that my cravings make sense, and are part of my successful weight losss effort.Now, in a new study by the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic, researchers have confirmed that the simple act of adding grapefruit and grapefruit juice to one's diet can result in weight loss. The grapefruit diet is not a myth!
With its high fiber content and low glycemic load, grapefruit may be a secret weight-loss weapon. Research suggests that dieter might be more successful if they select foods with staying power like whole citrus that help curb appetite and prevent overeating rather than employing some of the current fad diets. It has been shown that a person can actually eat large quantities of food without consuming too many calories by choosing foods high in fiber and water content. Such foods include fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and some soups. For example, oranges and grapefruit rank #1 and #2 in fiber out of the top 20 most-consumed fruits and vegetables. Studies provide evidence that they provide a greater feeling of fullness and keep blood sugar levels more constant resulting in better appetite control.
Current dieting studies suggest that dieters should focus on eating carbohydrates that have a low impact on blood sugar. This has led to the concept of Glycemic Load (GL), a ranking of food based on its carbohydrate content and its impact on blood sugar level. A GL below 10 is considered low. The GL for a half grapefruit is 6.
In a 12-week pilot study, led by Dr. Ken Fujioka, doctors monitored weight and metabolic factors, such as insulin secretion, of the 100 men and women who participated in the Scripps Clinic "Grapefruit Diet" study. On average, participants who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost 3.6 pounds, while those who drank a serving of grapefruit juice three times a day lost 3.3 pounds. However, many patients in the study lost more than 10 pounds.
"For years people have talked about the grapefruit diet, and some even swear by it, but now, we have data that grapefruit helps weight loss," said Dr. Fujioka, principal researcher at the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic. "Our study participants maintained their daily eating habits and slightly enhanced their exercise routine; the only dietary change was the intake of Florida grapefruit and grapefruit juice."
Some prescription medications interact with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Most do not, however, and there is no evidence that thyroid medicines interact with grapefruit. But to be sure you understand any possibly interactions with medications you take, read the Gradon's Guide to Grapefruit Interactions (Adobe PDF file), or Grapefruit Drug Interactions Website. |
Additionally, the research indicates a physiological link between grapefruit and insulin, as it relates to weight management. The researchers speculate that the chemical properties of grapefruit reduce insulin levels and encourage weight loss.
The importance of this link lies with the hormone's weight management function. While not its primary function, insulin assists with the regulation of fat metabolism. Therefore, the smaller the insulin spike after a meal, the more efficiently the body processes food for use as energy and the less it's stored as fat in the body. Grapefruit may possess unique chemical properties that reduce insulin levels which promotes weight loss.
Obesity continues to plague the American public and the health system. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 64 percent of U.S. adults are considered overweight or obese. Overweight or obese people stand a greater likelihood of developing life-altering and/or life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, arthritis, liver problems, and many others.
"Our study shows grapefruit can play a vital role in overall health and wellness, and in battling America's ever-growing obesity epidemic," stated Dr. Fujioka. "Whether it's the properties of grapefruit or its ability to satiate appetites, grapefruit appeared to help with weight loss and decreased insulin levels leading to better health. It's good the 'Grapefruit Diet' never lost its popularity among the public."
The study linking grapefruit and grapefruit juice consumption to weight loss continues to broaden the health benefits associated with this citrus product.
| MORE WEIGHT LOSS HELP FOR THYROID PATIENTS |
Comments
I started making fresh squeezed Grapefruit juice with Splenda as an alternative to my Pepsi intact.
In 1 month of switching from Pepsi and eliminating junk food and consuming 3-4 grapefruits a day … I have lost 18 pounds!!! I just stumbled across this site without any knowledge of it being a weightloss enhancer. Cool Stuff. I have no desire to drink Pepsi… but Ice cold grapefruit juice is very refreshing. I’m eating 3 good meals a day and when I want a snack I’ve been having a glass of grapefruit juice! I guess I stumbled upon something… and this sites information is right on!!
I started making fresh squeezed Grapefruit juice with Splenda as an alternative to my Pepsi intact.
In 1 month of switching from Pepsi and eliminating junk food and consuming 3-4 grapefruits a day … I have lost 18 pounds!!! I just stumbled across this site without any knowledge of it being a weightloss enhancer. Cool Stuff. I have no desire to drink Pepsi… but Ice cold grapefruit juice is very refreshing. I’m eating 3 good meals a day and when I want a snack I’ve been having a glass of grapefruit juice! I guess I stumbled upon something… and this sites information is right on!!
ok, so i heard about grapefruit diets but i can’t seem to find out how much grapefruit juice i should drink each day…and how much weight i should lose from it…can anyone help me
I started drinking grapefruit juice every morning about a month ago and ive lost 20 lbs without changing anything about my diet. I dont do anything but drink it and loose weight!
I was diagnosed with Grave’s disease in 1996, and after the radioactive iodine treatment, I have been on levothyroxine ever since. I don’t seem to do as good on that as I did the synthroid,but for the last nine months, I have eaten three grapefruits a day, and it has been a blessing!!!!! I keep my weight in check, and have more energy than I have had in years. No one will ever convince me that grapefruit is not a “wonder food.”
But aren’t there numerous warnings about how grapefruit affects other
medications such as cholesterol lowering drugs and blood pressure drugs?
Yes – there are many warnings, and you should always check what medications you take before you eat lots of grapefruit. But for people not on these medications (and even those who are – just check with your doctor first) – grapefruit is amazing. And it seems to be an acquired taste. I didn’t love it at first, but after 3-4 days I found I was craving grapefruit juice. Then I would have one glass or one grapefruit and be satisfied until my next meal – no random grazing on food throughout the day!
There is a study linking daily grapefruit intake to increased chance (30%) of breast cancer in post menopausal women. Of course there will probably be a study saying it fights off some other cancer soon.
i want to believe that this grapefruits will work.i will try it in the next one month
this diet is stupid and doesnt work!!!!
so i tried this diet.. and i didnt think it was going to work..
i stuffed my face and ate fried and bad food.. but i still lost 100 pounds in 9 days!!!!!! it was amazing!
Um, Danielle, do you mean you lost 10 pounds in 9 days or are you poking fun at the article?
Please be aware that grape fruits or juice increases your risk for kidney stones. I witnessed this first hand when my father drank a glass of grape fruit juice in the morning for weight loss (it worked), ended up in the emergency room, and had immediate surgery to remove several kidney stones. The doctors attributed the kidney stones to the grape fruit juice.
I started taking grapes and grapefruit juice about a week ago and I’ve stopped graving cola and don’t eat so much. I don’t wake up with pains in my feet any longer and I feel much lighter. I’ll keep you posted as I progress.
The dirty jews took my grapefruits.
I am diabetic and need to lose about 30 pounds. I think I can adjust this to help me. I have heard so much about this diet and grapefruits, being low on the gylcemic idex can’t hurt me, neither can the fruits and veggies and small portions of meat. Wish me luck.
I only started researching the properties of grapefruit after I started eating one before my breakfast every day and began noticing that I didn’t feel hungry or crave carbohydrates. I had heard of the grapefruit diet but I thought it had been dismissed, so I was surprised by my personal experience that I felt less like eating. I have told all my friends and no one believes me. This works for me. Perhaps it could for others also.
It works! I have lost a lot of weight. Eat “healthy” &eat at least 3 a day. My cousin went from size 18 to 6 just eating grapefruits,drinking 64oz of water & walking. The fruit is much healthier than drinking the juice. I eat 3-4 grapefruits a day, lots of water and for those like me taking blood pressure meds, my dr. said take meds in morning & safe to eat grapefruit 2hrs after. I then eat my grapefruit throughout day.
I HAVE LOST 44LBS DRINKING GRAPEFRUIT JUICE EACH NIGHT BEFORE BED 8OZ. ITS WORKS I’M SO HAPPY. PEOPLE PLEASE TRY IT IT REALLY WORKS
I do believe that their is definitely a correlation between weight loss and grapefruit juice. During the christmas holidays, I didn’t gain any weight but after the holidays and when I had in-laws in town visiting for 3 days, I realized that I had put on 6 lbs in just 3 days! I didn’t understand how in such short time so I drank grapefruit juice every morning before I started my diet and within a few days, the 6lbs were gone.
Regardless of the idiots on here who poke fun at the article, I am a professional male and used grapefruit as part of a healthy diet and workout plan, and lost 23lbs from July to October 2007. I have maintained the weight loss and have used the grapefuit to recover the lost weight when it has come back, mainly to my lack of watching my diet on occasion. It is true!
Hello, I was 320 back in February 2006 and by July 13th 2006 I had gone down to 212 pounds doing the grapefruit diet. I strongly recommend it. I gained some weight back but I’m starting again this Wednesday and I will let you know how much I will lose. I weight now 240.
I WENT TO MY DR. I’M DOWN 20 MORE LBS
I am going to try the Grapefruit diet today. I hope you all are right. I gained 20 lbs in 6 weeks and need to get that off pronto. I just turned 40 and I want to look my best. I’ve read all the blogs and there’s more positive than negative. I’ll keep you posted.
I’m really interested to see if this works! I Hope so! I put on about 50 IBS after my father passed three years ago and I can’t seem to get it off. How much juice or fruit do any of you recommend a day?
I started the diet yesterday and im hoping it will work for me, so far so good. I need to lose about 60 lbs. I weighed in at 206. I have already found that im not hungry after meals and about every 5 hrs i start getting hungry again. I eat 1/2 grapefruit 2 eggs and 2 slices of bacon for breakfast at about 7 am. At noon i drink 8 oz of grapefruit juice, eat tuna or other meat and a salad with dressing. And again at about 5 pm i drink 8 oz of the juice, eat the recomended meats, and vegetables and am full. i drink 8 oz of skim milk or tomato juice as a night time snack but no later than 7 pm and am good til the next morning. i stay away from bread, starches, potatoes, white onions, etc. Just type in grapefruit diet on google and it should direct you to the lists of foods allowed and not allowed. thats what i done. you may have to search a few minutes to find it.
Grapefruit is great when it is a part of a well rounded, healthy diet and exercise plan. If you truly want to lose weight and keep it off, it’s a lifestyle change.
I HAVE LOST 80 LBS. I TOLD A FRIEND ABOUT THE GRAPEFRUIT DIET SHE DIDN’T BELIEVE ME AT FIRST NOW SHE’S DOWN 35ILS.
Here is the plan. Half a grape fruit mixed with half a cup of Grape juice. Perfect I lost 7lbs in one week!!! I continued to eat all my same food just not too much. You can do it. Seriously. juast squeeze half of a grapefriut into a half a glass of any grape juice from the store.!!