The grapefruit diet is one of the earliest known Hollywood fad diets. It dates back to the 1930s, and many Hollywood stars of the time swore by it. It became part of xerox lore, faxed from machine to machine, in the 1970’s. The diet is attributed to the Mayo Clinic, which clearly states that it has nothing to do with diet and that the diet is not good.

The grapefruit diet is essentially like the Atkins diet with the addition of a grapefruit before each meal. There are no snacks allowed on this strict three meals a day diet. The diet claimed that people could lose 10 pounds in 10 days, or 5 pounds in five days. As wild as that sounds, this is wilder – the diet claimed someone might not lose weight for 9 days, but then suddenly drop 10 pounds in the last day. The claim that grapefruit contains enzymes that burn fat has never been proven.

Researchers showed that the diet may work in a 2004 study. Participants in the study lost 3.6 pounds on average in a 12 week span, eating one half grapefruit before each meal. People drinking the same serving size of grapefruit juice lost slightly less weight. Some people lost as much as 10 pounds in the 12 week study. It was believed that eating grapefruit resulted in decreased insulin levels, which in turn resulted in less stored fat. But the study didn’t limit people to just diet, they also exercised more which may have resulted in the weight loss.

Here are the rules for the grapefruit diet:

- Eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day, this is a must.
- Eat only until you are full at each meal.
- Eat everything listed for each meal, do not skip foods, they are specifically formulated to help burn fat.
- Grapefruit is the key – so eat that as specified.
- One cup of coffee can be consumed at each meal.
- Never eat between meals.
- Butter is OK.
- Avoid sweets and starches such as bread and potatoes.
- Do eat meats and vegetables.
- Eat until full in order to maximize weight loss.
- Follow the diet 12 days on, 2 days off, 12 days on etc.
- Grapefruit comes before every meal - ฝ fruit or 18 ounces of the juice.

Now you can go try the grapefruit diet.