Lose Weight with Grapefruit With The Traditional 3 Day Grapefruit Diet vs With The 12 Day Grapefruit Juice Plan vs By Replacing Meals With Grapefruit Smoothies ... and 1 more
Edited by Donna, Eng, Doug Collins
4 Methods:
The Health Benefits of Weight Loss With Grapefruit
All grapefruit is high in vitamins and minerals, but if you truly want to lose weight by eating this fruit then consume pink or red grapefruit which has much more lycopene in it. Lycopene is a derivative of Vitamin A that is found in foods that are red or pink in color. High lycopene on any fruit is key to quick weight loss and white and yellow varieties of it contain much less of this important compound.
Standing on a scale can help you lose weight.
Grapefruit can help you lose weight because:
- It is a low glycemic fruit that keeps your feeling energetic for many hours after eating because blood sugars are released very slowly into your system
- Grapefruit is very high in chromium, which is a mineral that is useful for fighting insulin resistance and warding off obesity due to Type 2 Diabetes and other metabolic disorders
- Grapefruit contains no fat and absolutely no starch, making it the perfect diet food as it is fat and the starches that turn into fat that tend to accumulate on your waistline, thighs and hips
- There are only forty calories in a single medium sized red grapefruit which means that this is a fruit gives you a great ROI nutritionally for eating a very little of it
It is very high in lycopene, a potent antioxidant that fights all cell damage and promotes weight loss, cardiovascular health and an efficient liver
- Grapefruits are high in the phytonutrient limone, which attaches to sugar molecules and helps our bodies convert sugar to fuel instead of fat, which in turn causes weight loss
- It is high in myristoleic and conjugated linoleic acids which quickly and efficiently convert consumed fats into energy instead of fat on the body
- It is incredibly rich in Vitamin C, which reduces inflammation in the body and prevents insulin resistance and also ensures the healthy function of all of its systems
- The high Vitamin C content coupled with the high antioxidant content in grapefruit act as a natural wound healer and pain reliever that can help ease joint and tissue pain and help you exercise longer and recover from exercise quickly
- It is very high in Vitamin A which supports liver and kidney function and also supports hair growth while enduring a low protein or low fat diet
- It contains a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals including pantothenic acid, copper, biotin, Vitamin B1 and potassium, which supports the function of your endocrine system and also helps keep your skin and hair beautiful while you are dieting
- Grapefruit is a good source of soluble fiber in the form of pectin, which helps you feel full and also helps clean out your intestines and arteries, so your metabolism works more efficiently and you don't gain weight
- Grapefruit contains several polyphenols that help prevent weight gain by lowering insulin levels and preventing carbohydrates from turning into fat like cellulite
- Grapefruit contains Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, which helps keep your brain and endocrine glands in good working order so that you lose weight without feeling fatigued or unwell
- The high potassium levels in grapefruit help your body eliminate the excess sodium and water bloat that is so much a part of our salty contemporary diet that causes weight gain
- The high magnesium content in the fruit keeps your muscles limber and relaxed and makes sure that you get a good night's rest, which is essential if you are on a low calorie diet
- Grapefruit is often called a super fruit because it contains a flavonoid called naringenin, which restores health to damaged DNA which helps with many types of problems including metabolic resistance and cancer
Method 1: With The Traditional 3 Day Grapefruit Diet
Broiled or raw grapefruit segments can easily be eaten with a spoon.
Over the days the traditional Grapefruit diet goes by many names including the Army diet, Navy Diet and the Cleveland Clinic diet. The promise of this traditional weight loss diet is that you will lose ten pounds in three days. It has been a popular crash diet since the 1920s. Do not stray from the instructions in this diet, which does not allow condiments and you will lose the weight.
- 1Grapefruit can interfere with the efficiency and effectiveness of many medications including drugs to lower cholesterol and drugs for high blood pressure. It is also not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women or individuals with eating disorders. If you are diabetic, either Type I or Type II, your doctor may advise that you take another approach to weight loss because this diet contains a lot of chromium, which lowers your blood sugar. Grapefruit can also interfere with thyroid medications. The grapefruit diet is also qualifies as being a crash diet because the weight loss is often not permanent.Check with a doctor before you embark on the Grapefruit diet or any other type of crash diet.
Grapefruit interferes with many medications so talk to your doctor before going on the 3 Day Grapefruit Diet. - 2You may add stevia or Truvia to your coffee as a sweetener. The toast with peanut butter is a minimal source of carbohydrates that can help you hold of on hunger pangs until lunch time.For breakfast on Day 1 of the diet consume one cup of black tea or coffee, ½ of a grapefruit and one piece of toast with peanut butter.
Peanut butter supplies you with the protein that your body needs to get through the day. - 3Make sure that the tuna is packed in water and not oil, or you will not lose the expected amount of weight in a three day period.For lunch on Day 1 consume ½ cup of tuna, 1 piece dry toast and black coffee or tea.
Buy tuna packed in water and not tuna packed in oil. - 4A good brand of ice cream to use is Chapman's sugar-free ice cream, which is not made with artificial sweeteners. Make sure that all of your vegetables are steamed. Salt, pepper and lemon juice are allowed as seasonings.For supper on Day 1 consume 3 ounces of lean meat, 1 cup of green beans, 1 cup of carrots or beets, 1 apple and 1 cup of sugar-free vanilla ice cream.
Ice cream is allowed for dessert as long as it is sugar-free. - 5Boil or poach the egg to avoid consuming the unnecessary fat that can come from frying it. In this meal the egg provides protein and the banana provides some fiber to help move waste through your digestive system.For breakfast on Day 2 consume 1 egg, 1 slice of dry toast, 1 small banana and 1 cup black coffee tor tea.
One hard boiled egg is allowed for breakfast in the morning on the second day. - 6You can replace the six crackers with four pieces of Melba toast if you like and you can season the cottage cheese with salt and pepper. Cottage cheese is the low-fat source of protein in this meal.For lunch on Day 2 consume 1 cup cottage cheese and six crackers.
Cottage cheese is an allowed source of protein that you can have for lunch. - 7You can substitute a cup of steamed cabbage or the broccoli. Make sure that all of the vegetables you eat are boiled or steamed and not cooked with any kind of oil or fat. Hot dogs provide some animal fat to this meal later in the day, which is apparently crucial to its success. There are hot dogs on the market that are made from organic sources. If you decide to substitute a chicken or turkey sausage, make sure that you only have one sausage and that it is as plain as possible without added spices or sodium.For supper on day 2 you can have 2 boiled hot dogs, 1 cup broccoli, ½ cup carrots, one small banana and ½ cup of sugar-free vanilla ice cream.
Two boiled hot dogs are allowed for dinner on the second day of this fast. - 8You can have four melba toasts instead of the saltine crackers if you like. The cheddar cheese and apple provide you with protein that keeps you steady and focused until lunch.For breakfast on Day 3, consume one apple, 1 ounce of cheddar cheese, five saltine crackers, black tea and coffee.
One ounce of cheddar cheese. - 9Make sure that the tuna is not packed in oil and that the food you eat is steamed.For lunch on Day 3 you can enjoy one cup of tuna, 1 cup carrots, 1 cup cauliflower, 1 cup of melon chunks (honeydew or cantaloupe) and ½ cup of sugar-free ice cream.
You are allowed one cup of melon chunks for lunch on this diet. - 10Corn and beans are too starchy and convert quickly into sugar, thus causing last minute weight gain and bloating. Pick fat free cuts of meat that are dense with protein. Good choices are steak, turkey, chicken and white fish. Do not cook any meat in this diet with oils. Barbecue or cook the meat in a bit of vegetable broth or lemon juice.For supper on Day 3 you can have six ounces of any meat and as many steamed vegetables as you like except for corn or beans.
Steak is a preferred protein to have for supper because it is lean and has a full amino acid profile. - 11As there is so much drastic weight loss in as short time when people go on this grapefruit diet, most people gain at least some of it back.Once you are done this diet, you can do it again in a month.
Method 2: With The 12 Day Grapefruit Juice Plan
The Grapefruit juice diet can help you lose weight over a period of twelve days.
In this diet, which relies on a limited intake of calories to be effective, you can lose ten pounds in twelve days. The key is to eat less than 1000 calories a day, even though it includes eggs, meat and dairy in the plan. It is a ketosis diet, which means that you are allowed high amounts of protein but no white carbs at all. This also means that you will not be consuming any bread, pasta, rice or potatoes, but that you will be able to consume some healthy oils. It qualifies as being a high protein diet, which may not be suitable for people suffering from liver or kidney disease.
- 1Grapefruit juice can interfere with many medications including medications for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, antihistamines, antidepressants and drugs prescribed for diabetes and heart arrhythmia. It is also not recommended for people who suffer from eating disorders, pregnant women or breastfeeding women. As it is so high in Vitamin C it is also not recommended for women who suffer from cystitis or people with bleeding disorders.Check with your doctor before embarking on a grapefruit juice diet.
If you are taking Statin drugs to lower cholesterol you may not be allowed to have grapefruit juice. - 2You could also have two poached eggs if you prefer. The bacon and eggs supply you with even more chromium and B vitamins as well as a high amount of protein, which will tide you over until your next meal.For breakfast consume two boiled eggs, two slices of bacon plus 8 ounces of grapefruit juice or ½ of a grapefruit.
- 3It is best to eat very trim fat from any cuts of meat that you consume. The vinegar in the dressing helps you digest all of the protein that you will be consuming during the day so that you do not become constipated.Wait four hours and then for lunch consume a salad with oil and vinegar dressing, six to eight ounces of any meat and 8 ounces of grapefruit juice or half of a grapefruit.
Drinking a grapefruit juice on the rocks is recommended because it is so refreshing. - 4Broiling the grapefruit helps relieve the monotony of eating it at every meal. You can also add a bit of sparkling water to the grapefruit juice to help relieve some of the tedium of always eating the same thing.Wait four hours and then for dinner consume six to eight ounces of any meat you prefer, roasted vegetables or a salad, coffee or tea and ½ grapefruit or 8 ounces of grapefruit juice.
Broioling the grapefruit makes it sweeter. - 5Do not have a nut milk, such as almond or coconut, as it has too much fat in it and you will gain weight. The milk adds calcium, magnesium and protein to the diet, which helps prevent the insomnia and leg cramps that can come with dieting.Wait at least three hours and then for a snack you may have 8 ounces of skim milk.
You are allowed to drink a glass of skim milk as a snack. - 6Be sure to weigh yourself and measure yourself every day to monitor your progress.Repeat this diet every day for another eleven days.
Weigh yourself every day to track your progress. - 7As it is a crash diet that involves eating well below what you need to have healthy skin, hair and organ function, you need to give your body at least thirty days to rejuvenate itself by eating the amount of calories a day that you would need to sustain your current new weight.Wait a month before doing this diet again.
Method 3: By Replacing Meals With Grapefruit Smoothies
In order to lose weight, all you have to do is replace one to two meals with a grapefruit smoothie. The smoothies on this list are all less than 200 calories, which means that you are saving 200 to 800 calories a day per meal while at the same time staying well, nourished and cutting hunger pangs. If you cut one meal a day and replace it with just one of the grapefruit smoothies below you could lose two to five pounds a week and if you replace two meals you could lose four to ten pounds a week. Each recipe below makes on twelve ounce serving.
- 1Blend two cups of ice with the flesh of one grapefruit, a cup of brewed Hibiscus tea, a teaspoon of Truvia or honey and a sprig of rosemary. The hibiscus tea is very rich in antioxidants that support weight loss and also the health of your kidney and liver. The rosemary is rich in essential oils that help speed up your metabolism and protect your system from damage due to insulin resistance.Make a Grapefruit, Hibiscus Tea and Rosemary Smoothie at 40 calories.
A grapefruit and hibiscus smoothie.
2
Make a Grapefruit, Watermelon and Mint Smoothie at 48 calories
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A grapefruit and watermelon smoothie.
3
Make a Grapefruit, Cucumber and Coconut Water smoothie at 58 calories a serving
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A grapefruit and cucumber smoothie.
4
Make a Grapefruit, Strawberry and Ginger Smoothie at 60 calories a serving
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A grapefruit, strawberry and ginger smoothie.
5
Make a Grape, Grapefruit and Lemon smoothie at 70 calories
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A grape, grapefruit and lemon smoothie at 70 calories.
6
Make a Grapefruit, Beet and Carrot smoothie at 75 calories per serving
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A grapefruit, beet and carrot smoothie at 75 calories per serving.
7
Make a Grapefruit, Apple, Celery and Lime smoothie at 80 calories a serving
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A grapefruit, apple, celery and lime smoothie.
8
Make a Grapefruit, Mango and Banana smoothie at 95 calories
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A mango grapefruit and banana smoothie.
9
Make a Grapefruit, Kale and Pear smoothie at 105 calories per smoothie
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A grapefruit, pear and kale smoothie.
10
Make a Grapefruit, Blackberry and Yogurt smoothie at 130 calories per serving
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11
Make a Grapefruit, Avocado and Spinach smoothie at 135 calories per serving
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A grapefruit avocado and spinach smoothie
12
Make Grapefruit, Cherry and Greek Yogurt Smoothie at 118 calories
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A cherry, grapefruit and yogurt smoothie.
13
Make a Grapefruit, Apple and Banana Smoothie at 140 calories per serving
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14
Make a Grapefruit, Banana and Honeydew smoothie at 150 calories per servings
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15
Make a Grapefruit, Pineapple and Coconut smoothie with 159 calories per serving
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A grapefruit, pineapple and coconut smoothie.
Method 4: By Adding More Grapefruit to Your Daily Diet
Adding more grapefruit to your diet helps you lose weight because it contains high amounts of both chromium and Vitamin C.
You can enjoy all of the benefits of grapefruit's rich nutritional profile as well as lose weight by incorporating it into your daily diet as often as possible.
- 1This offers you more chromium then you would normally get with other garnishes. Chromium is a mineral that helps regulate blood sugar and it also helps you feel full.Garnish your drinks with grapefruit wedges instead of lemon or lime slices.
Garnish your drinks with grapefruit wedges, instead of lemon or lime, to get more of it in your diet. - 2Fill an infuser pitcher with grapefruit segments and ice and add vapor distilled water. You can also add mint, rosemary, thyme, other citrus fruit, watermelon or any type of berry to the water to give it a unique flavor and also add to the diuretic properties of grapefruit.Drink water that is infused with grapefruit.
Drinking grapefruit infused water is a healhty way to stay hydrated when you are on a diet, - 3Blend two cups of grapefruit segments with a cup of ice, a sprig of mint and a teaspoon of liquid honey or stevia. Blend until frosty. This offers you a very tasty weight to get more chromium into your diet, which induces weight loss. It is also a very simple way to get the extra hydration that you need to stay hydrated.Make a grapefruit fruit slushy.
- 4Mix one part grapefruit juice with one part green tea and drink it every day to shed the pounds. These two ingredients together work synergistically to speed up your metabolism and rate of weight loss. Serve it on ice or blended together with ice and mint to make a frosty low calorie treat.Make a green tea and grapefruit juice "half and half" beverage and drink it every day to speed up your weight loss.
A green tea and graperfruit beverage is rich in antioxidants. - 5Sprinkle a grapefruit with a bit of brown sugar or drizzle on a teaspoon of honey and broil the grapefruit for about eight minutes in a hot toaster or under your stove's broiler. The warmth of the broiler brings out the juices of the grapefruit and gives it a sweeter flavor. Served with a piece of a whole grain toast or cottage cheese, you have a healthy protein rich breakfast that will sustain you for hours.Make a classic broiled grapefruit for breakfast.
'Broiled grapefruit with brown sugar and cottage cheese. - 6Stir grapefruit slices into plain yogurt, sprinkle with flax seeds or almond slivers and enjoy for breakfast or dessert. Yogurt is a probiotic foods that encourages the growth of friendly gut bacteria, which in turn encourages the absorption of nutrients and weight loss. the flax seeds provide essential fatty acids and fiber to help nourish your skin and hair while dieting and also accelerate weight loss.Eat grapefruit and yogurt bowl for breakfast.
Grapefruit, yogurt and almonds provides a diet-friendly breakfast that is is high in Vitamin C and protein. - 7Puree the flesh three medium m sized peeled and seeded grapefruit and add a handful of mint, a cup of yogurt, a ½ cup of frozen mangos and puree again. Pour into bowls and serve cold with a sprig of mint. This soup is rich in Vitamin A, which supports liver and kidney health and the protein in it supplies your body with the energy it needs to get things done, even though you are on a diet.Make chilled grapefruit soup.
Pink grapefruit soup garnished with a sprig of mint. - 8Grapefruit goes especially well with dark greens such as baby spinach and kale, as well as bitter greens such arugula and watercress. Salads that contain grapefruit a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals that support weight loss and any bitter greens that are added are particular good for helping the liver renew itself while you are dieting.Toss grapefruit segments into any type of salad.
gGrapefruit goes well in salads. - 9Toss together one cup minced cilantro with one cup chopped grapefruit and two minced hot red chilies. Season with salt and pepper and serve with taco chips or vegetables. This spicy condiment speeds up your circulation and helps you burn fat faster.Make a grapefruit salsa.
Grapefruit salsa. - 10If you are trying to eliminate fats and oils from your diet you can add salt, pepper, vinegar and cayenne pepper to grapefruit puree and pour it over a salad or steamed vegetables. The cayenne pepper stimulates your circulation and helps you shed the pounds.Make an oil-free grapefruit salad dressing.
- 11Mix together equal parts of grapefruit puree, olive oil and red wine vinegar with one tablespoon of honey, salt and pepper in a jar or bottle. Shake well and serve. Poppy seeds add a nutty flavor to the salad dressing and they also contain oleic acid which helps lower HDL, also known as bad cholesterol.Make grapefruit poppy seed dressing for salads or steamed vegetables.
A traditional grapefruit and poppyseed dressing. - 12Add one packet of Knox gelatin to a half cup of hot water mixed with ¼ cup of your favorite citrus juice, nut milk or tea and heat until the gelatin is dissolved. Blend the gelatin with grapefruit segments and chill in the refrigerator for at least thee hours. Gelatin is a good source of protein that keeps your joints pliant and flexible. You can serve this with almond milk, whipped coconut cream or real whipped cream or you could just consume it plain and save even more calories. Good choices of tea or fruit juices to use in this recipe include cherry, pomegranate, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, lime, strawberry, green tea, coconut water, rice milk and almond milk.Make a simple grapefruit gelatin desert.
- 13Mix together ½ cup of pure spring water, a ½ a cup of Truvia or Sugar in The Raw, a tablespoon of organic vanilla, a handful of crushed mint two tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice in a saucepan. Simmer and stir until the Stevia is dissolved. Blend the segments of one whole grapefruit and 1 frozen banana in a blender and then add to the sweet syrup. Use a hand blender to mix it all well and then pour it into a container and freeze it until it has the texture of a light ice cream. For a slightly creamier texture, try adding a bit of coconut milk, cashew milk or almond milk to the mixture in the blender and whip it for about two minutes longer than you normally would. This helps the mixture transform into a true custard.Make a grapefruit, mint and banana sorbet.
Grapefruit sorbet garnished with a sprig of mint. - 14Combine 3 ounces of fresh lime juice with half a cup of ruby red grapefruit juice, 2 ounces of tequila and an ounce of orange liqueur into a blender filled with ice. Blend until slushy in texture and pour it into a cocktail glass.Make a Grapefruit Margarita.
A grapefruit margarita.
Tips and Tricks
To measure the progress of your weight loss be sure to take your measurements as well as step on the scale.
- Be sure to take your measurements often because weight loss is not always reflected on the scale; sometimes it is reflected in inches lost around your middle, hips, arms and legs
- Skin discoloration and scratches may mar the appearance of a grapefruit but not affect the quality of the fruit inside
- Do not buy decayed grapefruit, which will feel soft and a bit watery
- Grapefruits are best I consumed within a week of purchase
- Rinse a grapefruit under cool running water before eating to make sure there is no bacteria left on the skin that could be dragged through the fruit as you cut into it
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
