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The Grapefruit Diet

Grapefruit Diet Review (UPDATED 2024): Don't Buy Before You Read This!

Fruit diet is a quick fix that may drop pounds, but it's not healthy.

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What is it?

The Grapefruit Diet is a short lasting weight loss diet that claims it can help burn fat. It is a low calorie and low carbohydrate diet that lasts from 10 to 12 days with a 2 day pause in between.

This diet is alternativelyknown as the Hollywood Diet, though it’s unclear why. There are also slight variations on this diet, as some guides offer different suggestions. Certain plans emphasize high amounts of protein with grapefruit and others suggest low calories with grapefruit. The most beneficial weight loss diets as reviewed by our experts were the 18Shake Diet. It offers a fat burning diet pill and a meal replacement that can suppress appetite for hours. Discover more information about the 18Shake Diet by clicking on the link provided here.

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Grapefruit Diet Ingredients and Side Effects

The basic 12 day meal plan is as follows:

• Breakfast: 1/2 Grapefruit or 4 ounces of unsweetened Grapefruit Juice, 2 eggs cooked any style and 2 pieces of bacon.

• Lunch: 1/2 Grapefruit or 4 ounces of unsweetened grapefruit juice,
salad with any kind of dressing and meat of any kind and in any amount. 

• Dinner: 1/2 Grapefruit or 4 ounces of unsweetened Grapefruit juice, Meat of any kind and at any amount which can be substituted for fish, vegetables that are green, yellow, or red cooked with any seasoning and butter.

• No white onions, celery, or potatoes are allowed. The only vegetable one can eat are carrots, peas, spinach lettuce, red onions, cabbage, bell peppers, green onions, cucumbers, radishes, cucumbers, and broccoli.

• As a bedtime snack a glass of skim milk or a glass of tomato juice.

It’s also advised for people to keep eating until they are full. Nothing in the menu can be omitted, particularly the grapefruit which is used to help burn fat. Snaking is not allowed and it’s also advised to limit caffeine use due to effects on blood sugar.

There is no evidence provided to help show why these food combinations would be effective for weight loss. It’s likely one will lose weight due to the difficulty of overeating meats and the few food allowances, but it’s not guaranteed.

Our experts have compiled a list of the best diets for weight loss, made available in the link here.

No proof is offered either to help show why grapefruit is considered a healthy fat burning fruit. Although it is rich in vitamin C, there’s nothing unique about this fruit that shows it has a weight loss effect. Furthermore, diet blog.com adds:

“The grapefruit diet works simply because of calorie restriction and doesn’t have much to do with the grapefruit itself”

There is a serious health risk with eating grapefruit however, as the NPS Medicine Wise website adds:

“A review article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights more than 85 medicines that can interact with grapefruit with43 of these having potentially serious consequences”

This can be potentially damaging to the body and should be considered for those who rely on medications. It could have serious health risks if not considered. For people with certain conditions, they would be unable to use the Grapefruit Diet.

Potential side effects can include:

• Kidney damage, bone marrowdamage, reduced or slowed breathing, rapid heartbeats which can lead to death, slow heartbeat, and damage to the skeletal muscles.

The diet itself allows for an unlimited amount of meats which can be harmful as well. This makes it impossible to determine what a safe limit would be. Eating this could also lead to high amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat which can have negative health consequences.

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EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.

Grapefruit Diet Quality of Ingredients

There is no evidence that eating the specified foods would be healthy. An unlimited amount of meats are allowed which can promote weigh gain if one overeats. Diet.com has also mentioned the potential health risks by adding:

“The risk of using the fad version of the grapefruit diet include nutritional imbalance (for both versions) and weight gain (for the high-protein version”

The low calorie version of this diet also has health risks due to the extreme lack of calories. This can promote side effects such as fatigue, lean muscle mass, malnutrition, and other health problems.

It’s for all these reasons that this is a poor quality diet. Click the link provided for a list of the highest rated weight loss diets.

The Price and Quality of Grapefruit Diet

No official book is offered and the only price one needs to pay is on the same kinds of foods since the diet has similar meals planned for the day. Eating these same foods for the total 10 to 12 days can be extremely difficult.

The overall quality is also poor due to the potential side effects which may result in either the low calorie or high protein version. There are many potential side effects which can result for those who are on medications due to the interaction with grapefruit. Furthermore, diets.com does mention that:

“grapefruit does not contain any miracle fat-burning enzymes”

It’s unclear why this diet focuses so much on using grapefruit as a primary food. Grapefruit is a healthy fruit but it’s not uniquely shown to help promote weight loss. No science or any form of evidence is provided to help prove the Grapefruit Diet would be a solution to weight loss. This makes it impossible to know what to expect from this diet. There are also no further tips or suggestions made by guides which feature this diet.

A comprehensive list of the top ranked weight loss diets is available in the link provided.

Business of Grapefruit Diet

The Grapefruit Diet was created in the 1930’s and became popular once again in 2004 when a study by Scripps Clinic confirmed grapefruit could help withweight loss. However, they have not approved the actual Grapefruit Diet. There was confusion from some cites who used this to claim that this diet would be safe and healthy for weight loss.

A review by Scripps nutritionists mentioned:

“This diet is very restrictive”

“Anytime you start a diet, especially one that restricts carbs, you’ll likely see a lot of water loss... once you reintroduce carbs, the weight comes right back”

Therefore, it’s not considered a lasting weight loss solution. It limits carbohydrates highly which only gets rid of water weight but not fat.

Our experts have compiled a list of the very best diets for weight loss.

EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.

Customer Opinions of Grapefruit Diet

Very few user reviews are available for this diet. Here are some select quotes:

“I haven’t lost anything”

“Can anyone telling me why I have stopped losing weight?”

“it ruins your body”

“Don’t put yourself through this because of what others think”

There was confusion between users who didn’t understand which version of this diet is the real Grapefruit Diet. There were negative reviews from the majority of users, with only a few actually losing weight. Those who did manage to reduce their weight also mentioned how it quicklyreturned as they resumed normal eating habits. It’s clear from the reviews that there are no long lasting weight loss benefits.

People have also criticized the diet for having a limited menu, and for not being satisfying enough to suppress appetite. For many it was difficult to eat high amounts of meat to help reduce their appetite. Though meat is satisfying due to high protein, people found it difficult to eat a lot of it.

Conclusion - Does Grapefruit Diet Work?

The Grapefruit Diet is a fad diet that recommends being used only for a short period. This is often suggested by other similar diets since it would not be healthy toeat like this for long-term use. It may lead to nutritionaldeficiencies and side effects. Another major problem with this diet is that there is no evidence to support its use. It’s unknown who created it, and there are majority negative reviews from users. Grapefruit may also negatively interact with medication which can cause many serious side effects. This potential risk is not mentioned by any supporters of the diet. Since there are different versions of the Grapefruit Diet, it’s also unknown which is the real version.

Our review experts analyzed many diets and they’ve found the most effective for weight loss is the 18Shake Diet. It combines a meal replacement which suppresses appetite for hours sand a fat burning diet pill. They help provide potent weight loss benefits without the use of any preservatives, fillers, stimulants, colors, or any artificial additives. Customers have also left positive reviews and testimonials to showcase how effective it is for weight loss.

The 18Shake Diet also has its meal replacement and diet pill manufactured in a GMP certified facility. This is a way secure way to ensure the facilities used are clean and consistently making quality ingredients. To learn more information about the 18Shake Diet, click the link cited here.

How Does The Grapefruit Diet Compare?
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User Feedback

(Page 3 of 8, 144 total comments)

Jessica Darnell

+

I lost 30 pounds in 30 days and kept it off after having my first child. It is now 11 years later and I have had my second child :) I started this diet 2 days ago! I hope it works like it did 11 years ago!!

posted Jan 29th, 2013 1:30 pm


lisa

Is it okay to eat a whole grape fruit instead of just one half? Because I love grapefruits!

posted Jan 28th, 2013 5:23 pm


Fay

Starting 2mora.let u know hw it goes ;-)

posted Dec 6th, 2012 12:46 pm


Mohamed

?

Apples and Oranges on the Grapefruit Diet? I started this diet 4 days ago and I've a question. Is it permitted to eat fruits like apple or orange? please help me

posted Nov 28th, 2012 2:02 pm


Victoria

?

Do I have to drink coffee and can I have more than 2 slices of bacon on the Grapefruit Diet? Do I have to drink the coffee to be successful? I started yesterday and I'm super excited. Im 247 and im tryin to get out of the 2's. My goal is 165/170. This the heaviest i've been in my whole life. I workout almost everyday. So im hopin im as lucky as some of u.

posted Oct 23rd, 2012 3:09 pm


msradio

I've tried this diet several times and it def works! I've been doing it off and on for a few months, I have to switch up becuz I will get bored doing the same thing, but if i def want to reach a certain go I always go back to this becuz it works!

posted Jun 13th, 2012 3:52 pm


Tiffany

Ive tried the scarsdale diet before vacation a couple of years ago and lost a little over 20lbs. Decided to give the grapefruit diet a try this time. I have started today and will try to post results every week.

posted Mar 27th, 2012 5:09 pm


Alexie

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I LOVE this diet ! I'm 5'10. I started 2/29/12 weighed in at 195. on 3/2/12 weighed in at 190.5 on 3/5/12 weighed in at 188.5 on 3/8/12 weighed in at 186.5 The amazing part about the diet is that you will feel full. I don't exercise. I also drink water if I run out of grapefruit. And remember every 13th & 14th day you can eat whatever you want and then go back on your diet. This grapefruit diet has now become apart of my healthy lifestyle. LOVE IT!!!!

posted Mar 8th, 2012 11:54 am


Danielle

?

On the grapefruit diet, does it matter what kind of grapefruit I eat? i just started this diet, i'm 165.. The grapefruit i bought is called texas sweet citrus grapefruit.. Will the fact that there already sweet impact the diet negatively?

posted Jan 5th, 2012 2:04 pm


Micah

Is there a certain amount of salad or meat you are supposed to have? I have been on this diet since monday (October 24) and I have only lost 4 pounds and somehow managed to gain one back. I have not strayed from the diet andhave been following it exactly.

posted Oct 30th, 2011 6:43 pm


shenita2010

+

i went on thid diet 1 year ago and let me tell you something i was very picky because of the bad reviews from doctors. lets be real doctors want us to stay unhealthy so that we can keep making them money lol. this is a good diet it was way healthier than what i was eating before i tell you that. i lost 70 pounds in 3 months it felt good. everybody should try this diet at least once in life just to see for themselves. it worked for me good luck everyone and if you dont know how it works get the details off of the mayo clinic it explains it very well. :)

posted Oct 4th, 2011 3:17 am


yumi

+

I stated this diet last week and I love it i have already lost 4 lbs. My friend did this diet and lost 48 lbs in 2 months... And she never gained the weight back.. I'm going to keep going and get to my goal of 170 I'm 5,9 and currently weight 241

posted Oct 2nd, 2011 10:09 pm


2galslooking2lose

I'm starting it on monday, with a buddy from work, and We are stoked to be able to jump start our weight loss. I've done the breakfast part a few days now just to test it out and it's very fulling... Sounds great!!! We will post again when we see shrinkage!!!!!

posted Oct 2nd, 2011 9:52 pm


Anon

?

On the grapefruit diet, should you eat the grapefruit before meals or after? The Grapefruit Diets : Enlightments

Hey could someone please help me? So I'm starting this diet tomorrow and I wanted to know when should I have the grapefruit? Before meals, after, or during..and if before or after how many minutes before or after.. And, one more thing, because of religious reasons I'm not allowed to eat pork. So, is there any substitute for the 2 slices of beacon in the morning? And if I just leave it out will it affect the weight loss? Thanks. (:

posted Sep 10th, 2011 2:01 pm


Jay

+

I have been on this diet 3 days and I have lost 7 pounds. I thought it would be tough because I love bread but it hasn't. I would recommend...Good Luck to all.

posted Aug 27th, 2011 4:47 pm


Jess

This diet is fantastic! I literally have lost 4 pounds ALREADY and I have only done it for 2 days. No joke! To answer the person below me's question, I believe you can have just a little bit of cheese on your omelet. I did yesterday. But seriously just grate enough so that your taste buds will know it's there, but no more. I will review again when my 12 days is up but I am in love with this diet!

posted Aug 17th, 2011 9:09 am


Bia

?

Can I have cheese in my omelet on the grapefruit diet? I want to have something else, getting tired of boiled eggs. I have started the diet, and lost 5 pounds, although I didn't follow it to the tee. I started it aging a week ago, and I'm planning to lose 10 pounds before end of August. I was wondering if I can have cheese, I don't like fried eggs, and I'm getting tired of having boiled eggs. I love omelet, but I'm not sure if i can put a lil cheese in there. If anyone know pls let me know thank you, and good luck to everyone.

posted Aug 5th, 2011 11:36 am


stit60

I tried this diet several years ago to lose a few pounds and it certainly worked! The concept is this: if you have fat and extra water retention to lose, you will lose quickly. I have a tendency towards water weight gain due to my age and thyroid issues. I look forward to starting this diet. Gotta run out on my lunch break today and stock up on grapefruit juice, eggs, bacon and chicken breasts. Can't wait to lose some of this tummy jiggle. I already exercise and do yoga 2 days a week. I just need a diet that will jumpstart me into eating clean and healthy again. Have been eating alot of sugar and carbs over the summer and that is to blame for much of my extra love handles and fat.

posted Aug 5th, 2011 10:08 am


Redpearls

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I am in my 8th day diet. I weighed 169lb when i started this diet but today I'm weighing 171.4lb. I followed it very strictly. I dint eat any heavy calorie food nor junk food.. Infact i did 45 min jogging also everyday. Serioulsy this diet is not working for me.

posted Jul 29th, 2011 8:11 pm


kitty40089

I absolutely love this diet! I have been on it for 9 days so far and I have lost 5 pounds. (I would've lost more but I did'nt know that you had to drink the grapefruit juice or eat a grapefruit 10 minutes before you started eating.) After I lose about 22 more pounds, I am going to stick to a healthy lifestyle, exercise everyday, and eat healthy. Will I gain all the weight back if I do this?

posted Jul 29th, 2011 3:57 pm



 

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BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND Start the Diet Now Advertisement

For years, the Grapefruit Diet has remained among the most popular of quick-fix fad diets. While the Grapefruit Diet makes for a great magazine article, nutritionists say it does not offer a well-balanced plan that you could follow for any extended length of time because your body requires more nutrients and calories than this calls for.

It's true that people following the Grapefruit Diet drop significant pounds in about 14 days. This is more likely correlated to the significant loss of calories than it is any weight-burning power the grapefruit may hold. The Grapefruit Diet suggests a total daily calorie consumption of around 800 calories, and nutritionists hold a healthy diet would have at least 1,200.

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PRO PRO
  • The grapefruit is a good source of beta-carotene
  • Helps reduce cholesterol and promotes heart health
CONCON
  • Not a long-term solution
  • Not enough variation in nutrients
  • Not enough calories
DIET and NUTRITIONDIET and NUTRITION

A day on the Grapefruit Diet would look like this:

  • Breakfast with half a grapefruit, two pieces of bacon and two eggs.
  • Lunch with half a grapefruit, as much meat as you like and a salad with your favorite dressing.
  • Dinner would include half a grapefruit, fish or meat, another salad with dressing or substitute buttered red or green vegetables. You can drink coffee or tea.
  • Before bed you could have 8 ounces of skim milk.
EXERCISEEXERCISE

No guidance provided.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

This is not a diet that could sustain a person for any length of time because of the unhealthy calorie intake. You will lose noticeable weight in a short amount of time, but as soon as you stop following the Grapefruit Diet the pounds will just as quickly return.

Common MisspellingsCommon Misspellings

Grapfruit Diet, The Grapfruit diet, The Grapefruit deit, Grapefruit plan

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