Grapefruit oil can aid in weight loss but it will not help you to lose weight by itself. You need to consider lifestyle and diet factors, too. However, grapefruit oil has a couple of benefits that help you to lose weight. Consult a qualified health care professional before using grapefruit oil to lose weight.
Weight Loss
According to the Mayo Clinic, successful weight loss is attained through calorie counting. You can burn calories through physical activity and by reducing extra calories in your food intake. You should always follow weight-loss programs under the advice of a health professional if you are taking medication or have other serious health problems.
Grapefruit Oil
Grapefruit oil is extracted from the peel of the grapefruit. According to Julia Lawless in "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils," grapefruit oil is yellow or green in color. Patricia Davis in "Aromatherapy: An A-Z," writes that grapefruit oil contains 90 percent limonene. It shares many of the same benefits as other citrus oils.
Benefits
According to Tony Burfield in "Grapefruit Oil Supply and Grapefruit Juice Contraindications," a study conducted on rats that sniffed grapefruit oil resulted in reduced appetite and weight loss. The scent of the grapefruit oil affected the autonomic nerve and increased the breakdown of lipids in the body.
Lawless recommends the use of grapefruit oil for the treatment of obesity. However, Davis suggests that although the diuretic effect of grapefruit oil may help reduce fluid retention and therefore lead to weight loss, it may be the anti-depressant benefits of grapefruit oil that help reduce weight. She states that many overweight people are unhappy and the anti-depressant benefits will improve their emotional state and consequently lead to weight loss.
How to Use
Shirley Price in "Aromatherapy Workbook" recommends adding two to three drops of grapefruit oil to approximately 34 ounces of water and then drinking two to three glasses of this water a day. However, grapefruit oil can also be added to a carrier oil or lotion and massaged onto the body to aid weight loss.
Cautions
Always make sure that you use therapeutic grade grapefruit oil for the treatment of weight loss; non-therapeutic grade grapefruit oil will not possess the same benefits. In general, grapefruit oil is non-sensitizing and non-toxic. Grapefruit oil does not have a long shelf life even when stored correctly, so it will oxidize quickly. Consult a health professional before using grapefruit oil in a weight-loss program.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Weight Loss Basics
- "Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils"; Julia Lawless; 1995
- "Aromatherapy: An A-Z"; Patricia Davis; 1999
- National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy: Grapefruit Oil Supply and Grapefruit Juice Contraindications
- "Aromatherapy Workbook"; Shirley Price; 2000
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