The grapefruit diet, popularized in the 1950s when it was known as the Hollywood diet, is based on the claim that grapefruit can help burn fat for weight loss. While many variations of the diet exist, most involve restricting caloric intake while consuming grapefruit with every meal, explains Maria Adams, M.S., MPH, RD at the University of Southern California. With no clinical evidence to suggest the safety or effectiveness of the diet, you should understand the risks and talk with your doctor before beginning this or any other diet program.
Lack of Nutrients
Most variations of the grapefruit diet, dieters restrict their calories by eliminating nearly all carbohydrates from their meals. A sample grapefruit diet meal plan presented by the University of Southern California contains fruit, bacon, eggs, meat, salad, coffee, tomato juice and milk. With such limited food options, your body won't be getting many nutrients it needs, warns the American Dietetic Association, or ADA.
Unsustainable
The grapefruit diet restricts the types of foods you can consume to only a few items. Even if the diet helped with short-term weight loss, such an eating plan quickly becomes monotonous and nearly impossible to maintain for the long term. According to the ADA, healthy eating should be a lifestyle, not a phase, and any diet that you couldn't imagine following for the rest of your life probably isn't appropriate for you.
Drug Interactions
The chemicals found in grapefruits and grapefruit juice may interact with the breakdown of certain medications in your digestive system. According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist, Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., grapefruit consumption could cause abnormally high levels of certain calcium channel blockers and drugs for high cholesterol in the blood. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how grapefruit might interact with any medications you take.
Lack of Evidence
Little to no research exists to support the health benefits of the grapefruit diet. A healthy diet includes three servings of fruit per day, and while grapefruit, rich in vitamin C and low in calories, is a healthy fruit choice, healthful weight loss requires a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein.
Member Comments