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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 has been described as bad by the Mayo Clinic, often associated with the diet.

Originally the grapefruit diet was an Atkins style diet that added one half grapefruit before each meal. There are no snacks allowed on this strict three meals a day diet. The diet made astounding claims – lose a pound each day for 10 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. It was based on the claim that grapefruit contains fat burning enzymes, something that has never been proven.

Researchers showed that the diet may work in a 2004 study. 1/2 grapefruit with each meal helped people lose 3.6 pounds in only 12 weeks. People drinking the same serving size of grapefruit juice lost slightly less weight. A few of the participants lost an astounding 10 pounds. It was believed that eating grapefruit resulted in decreased insulin levels, which in turn resulted in less stored fat. However, all the participants slightly enhanced their exercise programs, which may account for the lost weight.

Here are the rules for the grapefruit diet:

- Eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day, this is a must.
- Stop eating when full.
- Eat all the food listed at each meal, skipping food interferes with fat burning.
- Grapefruit is the key – so eat that as specified.
- One cup of coffee can be consumed at each meal.
- No snacking.
- Butter is OK.
- Do not eat desserts, breads, white vegetables, or sweet potatoes.
- Meat and vegetables are fine.
- Eating more will actually result in more 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.

The grapefruit diet may be for you.