Product descriptions on grapefruit fiber pills claim that the pills can help you lose weight. Grapefruit fiber pills are also described as containing more fiber than fresh grapefruit as the pills contain the whole grapefruit, rinds and all. Fiber from any source may help you lose weight, but grapefruit ground up into a pill may contain less fiber than fresh grapefruit. Grapefruit reacts adversely with many medications, so talk to your doctor before taking grapefruit fiber pills.
Benefits from Fiber
Consuming fiber can help you lose weight by giving you a feeling of extended fullness, which can make you less likely to overeat. The American Dietetic Association recommends that men consume 38 grams of fiber daily and that women consume 25 grams of fiber daily. However, the ADA also recommends you get your fiber from whole foods rather than supplements, such as grapefruit fiber pills. Research about the benefits of fiber obtained from supplements remains inadequate, the ADA says.
Amount of Fiber in Pills vs. Grapefruit
Claims that grapefruit fiber pills provide more fiber than fresh grapefruit do not stand up. A medium-sized grapefruit contains 2.8 g of fiber, not including the rind or seeds. Based on a sample of three commercial grapefruit fiber pills, the pills contained less fiber than actual grapefruit. Two commercial grapefruit fiber pills contained 1 g of fiber per serving and one product contained 2 g per serving. The labels provide separate entries for dietary and soluble fiber, but soluble fiber is a type of dietary fiber. So the amount of dietary fiber in the grapefruit fiber pills includes the amount of soluble fiber.
Other Sources of Fiber
While grapefruit and grapefruit fiber pills do contain fiber, other foods sources provide more fiber than either fresh grapefruit or grapefruit fiber pills. Boiled broccoli, for instance, contains 5.1 g of fiber per cup. Cooked split peas offer a 16.3 g of fiber per cup. An average-sized pear contains 5.5 g of fiber, and 1 cup of raspberries contains 8 g of fiber. A single cup of cooked whole wheat spaghetti offers 6.2 g of fiber. All these foods contain more fiber than both grapefruit fiber pills and a medium-sized grapefruit.
Drug Interactions
If you take medications, consult a medical professional before taking grapefruit fiber pills -- or consuming grapefruit in any form. Grapefruit can elevate the amount of medication in your bloodstream, leading to serious and potentially fatal side effects. The list of medications known to react adversely with grapefruit includes birth control pills, statins, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications and other psychiatric drugs. This is simply a partial list. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list.
References
- Article Geek: Eat More Pectin for Successful Weight Loss; Lee Dobbins; 2006
- Weight Loss Guide: Grapefruit Pectin -- How to Lose Weight
- Imhotep.inc: About Grapefruit Seed Extract
- American Heart Association: Learn and Live -- Fiber Up, Slim Down; Feb. 9, 2011
- American Dietetic Association: Eat Right: Health Implications of Dietary Fiber; 2008
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nutrient Database
Member Comments