The Grapefruit Diet and You: What’s the Scoop?
With all the different “fad diets” out there, it can be hard to keep track of them at all, let alone know which ones are right for you. However, a diet from the 1930s has become one of the most commonly practiced to this day — the grapefruit diet.
But what are grapefruits good for, and can sweet red grapefruits really make a difference in your health?
Winter Sweetz™ is here to explain the general benefits of grapefruits as well as discuss the aspects and merits of the grapefruit diet. Not only that, but you’ll know exactly where to find the best Texas Rio Red grapefruits when the season comes!
Grapefruits Are Great Fruits!
It’s difficult to overstate the beneficial nature of grapefruit. Their chemical make-up is a complex yet healthy blend of natural vitamins and minerals. Plus, there’s the simple fact that they taste great — particularly Texas Rio Red grapefruit!
If you add grapefruit to your meals and snacks, there’s no doubt you will experience health improvements, whether or not you decide to do the full diet. The nutritional build of grapefruit includes:
- antioxidants that support immune system health and have cancer-fighting properties
- low amount of calories
- significant levels of fiber that aid in regularity and heart health
- high amounts of vitamins A and C
As you can see, grapefruits are good for many things on their own, but you may also wonder what other foods and drinks a grapefruit diet allows you to consume, and what you should watch out for.
Meals To Enjoy and Medications to Watch
You may be asking yourself, “What can I eat on the grapefruit diet?”
Naturally, part of the answer is grapefruits! In fact, most versions of the diet advise you eat at least half a grapefruit with each meal a day.
However, in addition to sweet red grapefruits themselves, the grapefruit diet calls for:
- foods with lots of protein and high levels of cholesterol and fat such as eggs, fish, or red meat
- an increase in vegetable consumption and a decrease in sugars and oils
- a reduction of carbohydrates; consider substitutions like cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles
A typical meal on the grapefruit diet could be grilled fish, fresh greens, and grapefruit.
However, it’s important to know that certain medications are affected by the chemical compounds in grapefruits, particularly medicines that regulate cholesterol. As is the case with any diet, you should always consult your physician first before making any large change to your lifestyle.
Does the Grapefruit Diet Work?
Now that we’ve discussed both the benefits of grapefruits and how to build a diet around them, it’s time for the ultimate question — does the diet work?
While it is not a miracle fruit that will magically melt all the unwanted fat from your body overnight, it’s undeniable that they can help in your weight loss journey. Two studies from the past few decades have shown that grapefruit diets are good for losing weight.
The reason behind the efficacy of grapefruit in weight loss is mostly due to the overall makeup of the fruit, as it is around 88% water. Therefore, the additional water in your stomach will help you feel more full and eat less than you normally would.
It’s certainly a fact that grapefruits can be a powerful weapon if you want to lose weight, however, you should not expect any significant weight loss over one or two days. If you stick to the rules of the diet long-term, though, you will no doubt experience the benefits of grapefruits!
Sweet Red Grapefruit Belongs in Your Diet!
Though grapefruits are not the miracle food that many believe them to be, their benefits when introduced into a diet are plentiful. Plus, when the grapefruit is as delicious as a Wintersweetz’s Texas Rio Reds, there’s no reason not to include them in your diet when the season comes!