The Grapefruit Diet is a "lose weight quick" diet program, designed for dieters to drop several pounds in a short period of time. The diet plan calls for eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice, along with a low-calorie, high-protein meal.

The program has been popular amongst dieters looking to shed pounds quickly since its introduction by Kelly D. Brownell, PhD in the 1930's.http://www.grapefruit-diet.org/ It gained immense popularity during the 1970's when it was advertised as the "Mayo Clinic Diet." However, the Mayo Clinic has never officially endorsed the diet plan, and offer their own healthy dieting tips.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/nu00195

Dieters follow a 12-day program, that promises a total weight loss of at least 10 pounds during that period. If the diet is to continue past the 12 days, dieters must wait two days before continuing.http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-grapefruit-diet A strict diet plan is prescribed, that includes meals with low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, high protein foods. As the plan can vary, some versions recommend moderate exercise along with the diet.http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-grapefruit-diet

The Grapefruit Diet has been criticized as a fad diet, mainly due to the fact that the plan only allows for caloric intake between 800-1000 calories each day, greatly less than the daily intake recommended for healthy adults.http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-grapefruit-diet

• Disclaimer: While the diet may help to lose weight in a short period of time, it is not recommended as a long term solution for weight management.http://www.everydiet.org/diet/grapefruit-diet Before beginning any diet or exercise plan, it is recommended that individuals first speak with a health care professional.

The exact mechanism by which the Grapefruit Diet produces results is unknown, but there are theories that attempt to explain how it works. Proponents of the diet typically follow one of two arguments: the first is that the grapefruit contains enzymes, that when combined with protein and fat, speeds up the body's fat burning processes.http://www.grapefruit-diet.org/ The second theory is that the grapefruit and its juices contains plant compunds that work to reduce insulin levels in the body, which in turn stimulates weight loss.http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/grapefruit_diet.htm

Critics of the diet argue that there are no ingredients unique to grapefruit that help to promote weight loss, but the highly restricted daily caloric intake that causes dieters to shed the pounds. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-grapefruit-diet Although the recommended amount of calories will vary depending on an individual's gender, current weight, physical activity levels, and other factors, it typically falls between 1200 and 2000 calories. With the Grapefruit Diet, caloric intake is reduced to nearly half of the recommended levels (800-1000), which will cause a dramatic, but temporary, loss in weight, because once the diet has been completed the dieter will regain the weight once they resume their normal eating habits.http://www.everydiet.org/diet/grapefruit-diet

Grapefruit is the mainstay of the diet. Dieters will eat 1/2 of a grapefruit or drink eight ounces of unsweetened grapefruit juice with each meal. They are also encouraged to drink 64 ounces of water each day. Along with the outlined meal plan, dieters can drink unlimited amounts of decaffeinated black coffee throughout the day. Specific instructions for the diet warn dieters not to:

• Leave out any part of the outlined meal, especially fats, as these work with the enzymes in grapefruit to trigger weight loss.
• Stop eating until they are absolutely full. It is important that the entire meal be consumed
• Reduce the intake of caffeine, especially caffeinated beverages.
• Avoid eating anything between meals. The meals outlined in the plan are designed to keep dieters full.
• Avoid all sugar and starches
• Drink eight 8oz. glasses of water daily
• While unlimited amounts of meat and vegetables can be consumed, sweets, carbohydrates, and white vegetables should completely be eliminatedhttp://www.everydiet.org/diet/grapefruit-diet

The Grapefruit Diet is designed to offer dieters some flexibility in their food choices. Food approved for consumption while on the diet include:

• Bell Peppers
• Brocoli
• Cereal
• Corn
• Eggs
• Fish
• Fruit
• Meat
• Milk
• Red Onions
• Radishes
• Pasta
• Peanut Butter
• Spinach
• Vegetables ( Red or Green)

While it is not part of the prescribed diet plan, exercising along with a change in eating habits can work to produce desired weight loss results.http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/lose-weight-fast-how-to-do-it-safely Individuals can do light to moderate levels of exercise, between 2-3 times each week to help with not only losing weight, but develop a healthier physique.

An effective exercise that can be completed either outside or in a gym is walking. Walking can help to stimulate circulation, increase heart functioning, and help in losing weight all over the body, and not just in a specific target area. While there are a number of factors tht go into calculating an exact number, a one mile walk generally burns 100 calories. To calculate how far you have walked, use the following:

1. First measure your stride. Mark a distance of 50 feet from your starting point.
2. Walk the distance and count the total number of steps it took to complete it.
3. Divide 50 by your total number of steps.
4. Divide 5280 (5280 feet = 1 mile) by your stride length, this will give you your average number of steps per mile.
5. Use your number of steps per mile to determine how far you have traveled when walking. A pedometer may help to make the process of counting the steps easier.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.