Grape fruit diet

It is hard to believe that a single fruit, the wonderful grapefruit, can be the basis for a full-fledged diet program. The Grapefruit diet is also popularly known as the Hollywood diet. Normally, a grapefruit diet is a 7 or 21 day diet regime, with the first 48 hours of greater intensity. Grapefruit is rich in fibers and vitamin C.

The grapefruit diet is based on the notion that grapefruit has immense fat burning abilities. Several claims have been made about the grapefruit diet stating that it has some kind of fat burning enzyme; but these are yet to stand up to scientific scrutiny. Some scientists speculate that a half a grapefruit with each meal lowers insulin levels and encourages weight loss.

The methodology of following a grapefruit diet is quite simple. All meals of the day are to be accompanied by a grapefruit or a glass of grapefruit juice. The first phase is of intense 48 hours duration, during which people have reportedly lost up to 6 pounds. Generous amounts of food items such as butter, which are banned in other diet programs, are allowed in the grapefruit diet. Debatably, much success seen in the course of a grapefruit diet can be attributed to the low amount of calorie intake. Another major change one has to become accustomed to is the removal of starches and sugars from the diet. They are primarily lipids which are converted to fat in the body.  

Caffeine is totally prohibited while pursuing a grapefruit diet. It is believed that caffeine greatly interferes with the insulin levels, and hampers the process of fat burning that is catalyzed by the grapefruit. If one cannot do away with coffee, lowering amounts of coffee intake to about one cup a day should be followed. Black coffee or decaffeinated coffee are other options you can consider if you find it difficult to completely give up coffee. White items such as potatoes, breads and vegetables are also banned from the food list.

The grapefruit diet is as popular among non-vegetarians as it is among vegetarians. This is because a second helping of all lean meats or vegetables is permitted. The grapefruit is said to work along with proteins to burn fat, all items rich in protein are accepted gladly. Likewise, another surprising element is that followers of the grapefruit diet are not restricted to eating small portions of food. Rather, they are encouraged to eat until they are full. The reason for this, as per experts, is that it is the combination of foods that assists in burning of fat. Hence one should not cut down on the amount of food intake while following a grapefruit diet.

However, followers of the grapefruit diet should not forget that the weight loss that occurs is primarily from fluids in the body and not from fat loss. The amount of weight generally returns back when a person goes off the grapefruit diet. If you are looking for a long term weight loss plan then this is probably not the correct choice for you.