The history of weight loss is littered with the corpses of diet plans that have caught widespread attention, or have received a brief moment in the spotlight, only to flame out and die in obscurity. However, there are also those plans that seem oddly persistent, surviving through the decades with some minor adjustments, but with their basic form intact.
One example of the latter type of plan is the grapefruit diet, which basically prescribes that people take half a grapefruit with every meal, snack less, and slightly increase their physical exercise. The origins of this diet are obscure, but some sources say that it has been circulating at least since the 1990’s. It has cycled in and out of public consciousness, but never quite disappeared. For example, a deliberately extreme version of it popped up recently in Darren Aronovsky’s film Black Swan, in which a troubled ballerina played by Natalie Portman is shown having only the half grapefruit (and nothing else) for breakfast.
The real grapefruit diet, of course, is a great deal healthier than the starvation diet used in Aronovsky’s film to highlight his heroine’s emotional fragility. It does not require people to deprive themselves of the food they really need. Furthermore, it also does have very real benefits in terms of helping dieters lose weight.
For one thing, the dieter loses weight because of grapefruit’s laxative effect. At reasonable levels, this effect can boost the body’s general health, particularly with regards to the digestive system. Red grapefruit, in particular, can lower the level of triglycerides in your body. In addition, grapefruit is said to suppress the appetite. People may find it easier to control their food intake and avoid snacking too much in between meals. Grapefruit itself is quite low-calorie, so adding it to a diet does not necessitate ruthless slashing of other food groups as compensation. A grapefruit half contains an extremely reasonable 39 calories.
Another important effect of eating grapefruit is that it can help your body manage its blood sugar levels better. Usually, blood sugar levels spike right after a meal. However, there is some indication that grapefruit helps to lower this spike and keep your blood sugar at a more consistent level. This may not seem like a huge deal, but over several weeks and with regularity in the diet plan, people may notice a gradual but significant weight loss.
Truly, there are several good reasons to at least give the grapefruit diet a try. However, the plan may seem too monotonous for some: who would want to force themselves to eat the same kind of fruit as part of every meal? However, the good thing is that grapefruit is actually quite versatile, and there are many different ways to enjoy it. For example, one can drink the juice of the half-grapefruit—at least sometimes. (Whole fruit has more nutrients and fiber than juice, and so having “just” the juice is a slightly nutritionally inferior option as compared to having the flesh or pulp as well.)
There are also various delicious recipes that include fresh grapefruit as an ingredient. For example, there is a type of salad in Thai cuisine that is based on pomelo, but also includes coconut flakes and chicken. It is a refreshing, tasty dish, and is only one of the many exciting ways to enjoy grapefruit. The most convenient, quick option may be to take a grapefruit pill with your meal, but taking the real, fresh fruit still has more benefits overall.
Of course, the grape fruit diet, like any other plan, works best when incorporated with somewhat more exercise and a generally healthy lifestyle. In addition, some adjustments might need to be made for people with particular ailments that might be sensitive to a large intake of grapefruit. For example, people with loose bowels might wish to consult their doctors before going on the grapefruit, as might people with high stomach acidity.
i’ve been in and out of a diet for so long to be convinced enough that i should gamble again on this one. but the promised effects are quite tempting. will this be that one diet that can take me out of the yo-yo thingy?
it’s hard to eat the right foods when your house is stocked with all the junks. to teach yourself to eat right, you better start shopping for the healthier variety. let go of chips and fries for snacks and instead grab an apple or some vegetable sticks. the big difference in taste and level enjoyment might be compromised but if you think how good this move be for your total wellbeing, you will forget all about that. after all, we eat to live. food is fuel for our energy. if you want quality movements, you must stock up on quality fuel.