One of the popular fad diets in Hollywood was the grapefruit diet. Stars and starlets used it as far back as the’30s. Then in the 70’s it became a piece of fax junk, sent from machine to machine, and became known as the xerox lore. The Mayo Clinic, which is often credited as the diet’s creator, claims to have nothing to do with this unhealthy diet.

Originally the grapefruit diet was an Atkins style diet that added one half grapefruit before each meal. There was no cheating on this diet only three meals a day and no in between meals snacks. The diet made astounding claims such as lose a pound each day for 10 days.

The distribution was just as far fetched no weight loss for four days then five pounds lost all on the fifth day. Supposedly grapefruit contains enzymes that destroy fat, but no study has ever proven that to be true.

In 2004 it was proven that the diet may work. 1/2 grapefruit with each meal helped people lose 3.6 pounds in only 12 weeks. Drinking the juice from the grapefruit led to only slightly less weight loss. Some people in the study lost as much as 10 pounds in the 12 week period.

Researchers credited the weight loss to decreased insulin levels caused by eating the grapefruit. But the study didn’t limit people to just diet, they also exercised more which may have resulted in the weight loss.

Here’s an overview of the typical grapefruit diet plan:

- Eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day, this is a must. – Stop eating when full. – Eat all the food listed at each meal, skipping food interferes with fat burning. – Grapefruit is the key so eat that as specified. – Drink only up to 1 cup of coffee at meals. – No snacking. – Butter is OK. – Do not eat desserts, breads, white vegetables, or sweet potatoes. – Meat and vegetables are fine. – Eating more will actually result in more weight loss. – Follow the diet for 12 days, skip two days, then start again. – Eat one half grapefruit, or drink’ ounce glass of grapefruit, with each meal.

Now you can go try the grapefruit diet.

This article on our health blog is for those that are Looking For The Grapefruit Diet there are many things to consider before starting any diet. Check out our complete articles on many diets found online such as the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Weight Loss Program and Diet Center.