The grapefruit diet is one of the earliest known Hollywood fad diets. It dates back to the’30s, and many Hollywood stars of the time swore by it. It remained popular until the mid-1970s, when it became one of the diets that was faxed around from machine to machine, popularly known as xerox lore. The diet is attributed to the Mayo Clinic, which clearly states that it has nothing to do with this diet and that the diet is not good.

The grapefruit diet is essentially like the Atkins diet with the addition of a grapefruit before each meal. The diet only allows three meals each day, with no snacking in between meals. Supposedly a person on this diet could lose 10 pounds in only 10 days.

The distribution was just as far fetched no weight loss for four days then five pounds lost all on the fifth day. It was based on the claim that grapefruit contains some form of fat burning enzymes, something that has never been proven medically.

In 2004 a scientific study determined that it is possible that the grapefruit diet helps people lose weight. 1/2 grapefruit with each meal helped people lose 3.6 pounds in only 12 weeks. Those who drank the serving of grapefruit juice at each meal lost just slightly less weight in the same period of time. Some people lost as much as 10 pounds in the 12 week study.

Researchers credited the weight loss to decreased insulin levels caused by eating the grapefruit. But the study didn’t limit people to just diet, they also exercised more which may have resulted in the weight loss.

Here’s a typical grapefruit diet:

- Eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day, this is a must. – Stop eating when full. – Eat all the food listed at each meal, skipping food interferes with fat burning. – Grapefruit is the key so eat that as specified. – Drink only up to 1 cup of coffee at meals. – No snacking. – Butter is OK. – Do not eat desserts, breads, white vegetables, or sweet potatoes. – Meat and vegetables are fine. – Eating more will actually result in more weight loss. – Follow the diet for 12 days, skip two days, then start again. – Eat one half grapefruit, or drink’ ounce glass of grapefruit, with each meal.

Now you can go try the grapefruit diet.

This article on our health blog is for those that are Looking For The Grapefruit Diet there are many things to consider before starting any diet. Check out our in depth articles on many diets found online such as the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Weight Loss Program and Diet Center.