Grapefruit diet

Grapefruit Diet
	A fresh grapefruit, central to the grapefruit diet.
Also Known As	Hollywood Diet, Erroneously as Mayo Clinic Diet
Origin	United States, 1930s
Duration	10 to 12 days, with 2 days off
Key Component	Grapefruit or grapefruit juice with each meal
Dietary Focus	Low-carbohydrate, high fat, and protein

The Grapefruit Diet, popularly known as the Hollywood Diet and mistakenly referred to as the Mayo Clinic Diet, is a short-term fad diet that emerged in the United States around the 1930s. This diet is predicated on the belief that grapefruits possess a special fat-burning enzyme. However, variations of this diet that are excessively low in calories, carbohydrates, or essential micronutrients can be detrimental and even hazardous to health.

Origins and Popularity[edit | edit source]

The Grapefruit Diet traces its roots back to the 1930s in the United States. It gained the moniker "Hollywood Diet" due to its purported popularity among Hollywood stars.

Dietary Components[edit | edit source]

The Grapefruit Diet is fundamentally a low-carb diet. Its central thesis is that consuming grapefruit, which supposedly harbors a unique fat-burning property, in tandem with foods high in dietary fat accelerates fat burning. Thus, the diet recommends:

Eating half a grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice with every meal.
High consumption of meats, eggs, and other protein-rich, fatty foods.
A typical breakfast might comprise bacon and eggs.
Strict limitation or complete exclusion of carbohydrates: sugar, sweet fruits and vegetables, grains, and cereals.

The regimen lasts 10 to 12 days, succeeded by a 2-day break.

Health Implications[edit | edit source]

Though integrating more grapefruit into a balanced diet can be beneficial for a healthy individual, the Grapefruit Diet has several health implications:

It can be dangerous for those taking medications that have potential interactions with grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
People allergic to citrus fruits must avoid this diet.
Diets too low in calories (below 1200 per day), carbohydrates, or vital micronutrients are considered harmful.

Criticism and Considerations[edit | edit source]

Critics argue that the Grapefruit Diet:

Lacks scientific backing for its core claim about grapefruit's fat-burning properties.
Is a fad diet that might offer short-term weight loss results but is not sustainable or nutritionally balanced in the long run.
Can be especially harmful if followed without proper knowledge about drug interactions or personal allergies.

References[edit | edit source]

Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies. Frances Sizer, Eleanor Whitney. Cengage Learning, 2017.
Drug-food interactions and the grapefruit effect. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2015.

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