Posted on 01/28/2004 5:56:43 PM PST by blam
Grapefruit diet really works, say scientists in US
By Celia Hall, Medical Editor
(Filed: 29/01/2004)
The famous grapefruit diet espoused by women across the Western world 30 years ago really does work, according to research from America.
A three-month study has shown that adults who ate half a grapefruit with each normal meal, three times a day, lost 3.6lb on average compared with people eating a similar diet without grapefruit who lost only 0.5lb.
Some of the grapefruit eaters lost as much as 10lb and even grapefruit juice had an effect. A group who drank juice lost, on average, 3.3lb.
Dr Ken Fujioka, from the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Centre at Scripps Clinic, San Diego, the lead researcher, said eating grapefruit might also help to reduce the risk of diabetes.
At the end of the pilot study involving 100 obese adults, the grapefruit groups were found to have reduced levels of insulin and glucose.
The researchers believe that enzymes in grapefruit affect the way the body deals with sugar and make it less likely to be laid down as fat.
"For years people have talked about the grapefruit diet and some even swear by it. Now we have data that grapefruit helps weight loss.
"Our participants maintained their daily eating habits and slightly enhanced their exercise routine. The only dietary change was the intake of grapefruit and grapefruit juice."
In the 1970s hundreds of thousands of women went on the diet, cutting down on calories and eating half a grapefruit with every meal.
Emma Bunn from Diabetes UK, commenting on the research in the Chemistry and Industry Magazine, said: "We know weight loss reduces the body's resistance to insulin and therefore improves diabetes control.
"Weight management is important in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. We will be following any further research in this area closely."
Although it is not its main function, insulin, a hormone, assists in the way the body metabolises fat. The researchers found a smaller insulin surge after meals in the grapefruit eaters. They believe this may help the body to use food for energy more efficiently and reduce the amount stored as fat.
Research has also shown that enzymes in grapefruit may also affect the way certain drugs behave by increasing their levels in the blood. It does this by inhibiting the action of an enzyme in the gut which normally works to rid the system of drugs or toxins.
These include some calcium channel blockers, used to treat heart and circulation disorders, some antihistamines and some cholesterol-lowering drugs
There are two races that get stupid on alcohol. White people and everybody else."
There are two races that get stupid on alcohol. White people and everybody else."
I remember some of the girls years ago that ate grape fruit, they complained about it affecting their teeth...any experience with that?
I was impressed by the insulin impact.
LOL. I could use a case over here too.
grapefruit-on-sale-time-to-diet-again-bump
I wonder if it's okay to add vodka to the grapefruit juice!
I've been on an extended grapefruit diet. Haven't touched on in 10 years. Hasn't helped yet.
I just needed to ditch the holiday 'plumping', and it's nearly all gone after 5 days of choking down ruby reds, which I actually love but not in this amount.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.