Will Grapefruit Cause Weight Loss?

Grapefruit and the hunt for weight loss aids have long been linked. Many dieters believe adding grapefruit to their diet will promote weight loss, and recent studies seem to back up these conclusions. Making grapefruit a regular part of a healthy, calorie-controlled diet may increase your body's capacity to lose weight.

Grapefruit Diet

The grapefruit diet has been around since the early 1900s. The diet is a fad diet that strictly limits calories and requires dieters to drink grapefruit juice or eat a half of a grapefruit with every meal. In its original form, the grapefruit diet isn't particularly healthy because it limits calories to about 800 per day, which is well below the threshold required for health. Modified grapefruit diets that don't restrict calories as severely and rely on healthy foods exist.

Research

A 2006 study published in the "Journal of Medicinal Food" placed 91 obese patients on one of the following: a placebo capsule and 7 oz. of apple juice, a half of a fresh grapefruit with a placebo capsule, grapefruit capsules and 7 oz. of apple juice, or 8 oz. of grapefruit juice and a placebo pill three times per day. After 12 weeks, the fresh grapefruit group lost an average of 3.5 pounds, the grapefruit juice group lost 3.3 pounds, the grapefruit capsule group lost 2.4 pounds and the placebo group lost 0.7 pounds. Findings also showed a reduction in post-glucose insulin levels at two hours in the grapefruit groups compared with the placebo group. The study concluded that it would be reasonable to include grapefruit as a part of a weight reduction diet.

Flavonoid

Grapefruit contains a flavonoid called naringenin, which gives the fruit its sour flavor. An American Diabetes Association study showed that naringenin is able to correct metabolic disturbances that are linked to insulin resistance, which may help people with metabolic syndrome lose weight and lead healthier lives.

Nutrition

Grapefruit is a low-calorie, high-fiber food. One half of a grapefruit contains 40 calories and 1 gram of dietary fiber. Eating high-fiber, low-calorie foods may help to promote weight loss due to the satiating effects of fiber. Grapefruit is also a low-glycemic food, so it won't cause spikes in blood sugar, which may also help to promote weight loss.

Weight Loss

You may be able to lose weight by adding grapefruit to your diet, but making this your only dietary change may not result in the levels of weight loss you are seeking. Combine daily intake of grapefruit with a healthy high-fiber, low-fat diet that features fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein, low-fat dairy and whole grains. Exercising along with your diet will also help you lose weight. If you do include grapefruit as a part of your weight-control plan, don't add sugar, which may negate the possible insulin-control properties of the grapefruit.