The grapefruit diet has been around in one form or another for many years. Different versions of the diet have different rules concerning calorie counting and allowable foods, but all include grapefruit with each meal to perpetuate weight loss. The grapefruit diet is designed as a quick weight loss plan and is often referred to as a "fad" diet.
Nutritional Profile
Grapefruit has a high nutritional value, and only 97 calories per cup. Grapefruit is a rich source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, iron, calcium, beta carotene, pectin and fiber.
Concept
The grapefruit diet usually takes one of two different forms. On one plan, grapefruit is the focal point, and total calories are restricted to just 800 per day. This is typically a seven- or 21-day plan. The second common grapefruit diet uses grapefruit with each meal, but has few restrictions and recommends eating until you are stuffed at each meal. This methods usually lasts for 12 days followed by a two-day break, then 12 days again. The premise behind each approach is that the grapefruit contains enzymes that act as a catalyst to get the fat-burning process started.
Meal Plan
Restricted versions of the grapefruit diet have you eating little more than salad, some lean meats and grapefruit. The higher consumption version starts with a breakfast of half a grapefruit, two eggs and two slices of bacon. Lunch is half a grapefruit, any variety of meat in any quantity and salad with any type of dressing. For dinner, you have half a grapefruit, any amount or variety of meat or fish and any type of vegetable cooked in butter. A bedtime snack consists of one glass of skim milk or tomato juice.
Risks
The heavier version of the grapefruit diet may result in a high saturated fat intake, depending on the type of meat you choose at each meal. The instructions also encourage users to overeat. The calorie-restricted version of the diet usually contains about 800 calories per day, which is not enough for your energy and nutritional needs for the day, says Diet.com.
Considerations
Grapefruit on its own is a healthy food and a good addition to a diet, but the grapefruit diet probably won't result in serious or sustainable weight loss, says Every Diet. Grapefruit also may interfere with the absorption of certain medications, resulting in higher medication levels in the blood.
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