Grapefruit & Apple Cider Vinegar Combo Diet

Mostly found in pill form, the grapefruit and apple cider vinegar combo diet has almost no scientific validation for its weight loss claims. Both diets, individually, have been around for decades and are considered by many to be nothing more than fad diets. However, both grapefruit and apple cider vinegar contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes and nutrients that are part of a healthy diet.

Grapefruit Diet History

Grapefruit diets have been around since the 1930s when they were dubbed the "Hollywood Diet" and later the "Mayo Clinic Diet" in the 1980s even though the diet is not endorsed nor recommended by the Mayo Clinic. The diet suggests eating as much meat, poultry and fish as you like. However, the diet has specific rules such as no snacking in between meals and never eating past 8:00 p.m.. The diet's theory postulates grapefruit contains an unidentified compound that helps the body lose weight.

Apple Cider Vinegar Diet History

Apple cider vinegar's use as a dietary aid gained popularity after Dr. D.C. Jarvis published his book "Folk Medicine" in 1958. He suggests that drinking 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar mixed with a glass of water daily will help you lose weight over time. Since Jarvis' book, several variations of the diet have been used over the years. Dr. Earl Mindell, a noted nutritionist, suggested using the very same recipe for weight-loss in his 1999 book "Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar."

Possible Combined Benefits

Both grapefruit and apple cider vinegar contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes and nutrients that may be beneficial to any weight-loss diet. Grapefruit contains a high level of citric acid and apple cider vinegar is four to 5 percent acetic acid; both acids are known to help complete the body's "citric acid cycle," according to Krebs theory. Dr. Hans Krebs won the Nobel prize in 1953 for his theory on explaining how the body metabolizes the foods we eat via the "citric acid cycle." According to Krebs' theory, grapefruit and apple cider vinegar enhances metabolism, possibly leading to weight loss.

Grapefruit Opposition

According to Maureen Callahan, a registered dietitian with the Health website, says that all "Grapefruit diets have one thing in common besides grapefruit: They all prescribe a small amount of food or limit choices from certain food groups." The grapefruit diet is not recommended because it only provides 1,200 calories "Which is not enough food for good health," says Callahan. Elisabetta Politi, nutrition manager at Duke University's Diet and Fitness Center says, "Grapefruit has no special properties when it comes to weight loss."

Apple Cider Vinegar Opposition

Mayo Clinic dietitian, Katherine Zeratsky says, "Drinking a small amount of apple cider vinegar before meals or taking an apple cider vinegar supplement helps curb appetite and burn fat. However, there's little scientific support for these claims." She also notes that apple cider vinegar, while safe for most people, could cause health problems and interferes with some prescription medications such as insulin. According to the MayoClinic website, apple cider vinegar's usefulness as an effective weight-loss dietary aid is only conjecture.

Warnings

Grapefruit is contraindicated with numerous medications. So many in fact, the FDA requires pharmaceutical companies to test all medications with grapefruit to see what the reaction will be. If the medication should not be used with grapefruit, pharmacies are required to place a warning sticker on the prescription. Apple cider vinegar has been reported to cause esophageal damage, stomach irritation and possible kidney disorders. Consult a physician before starting a combination diet of grapefruit and apple cider vinegar.