The whole concept of grapefruit for weight loss is nothing new. It has been around since the early 1900s. People who already tried and were successfully able to reduce weight claim that grapefruit contains particular enzymes when consumed before meals like lunch and dinner will help burn the extra fat in the body.
The diet, which has several variations, lasts 10-12 days and claims to help you lose as much as 10 pounds. But before you try to consume grapefruit or grapefruit essential oil for weight loss, let’s dig into some more information.
If you’re wondering “How does grapefruit help you lose weight?” As per studies say that including grapefruit in diet can help reduce a few extra kilos of your weight. The particular enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) gets activated by a natural ingredient in grapefruit known as nootkatone.
When that specific enzyme (AMPK) gets activated, it enhances the body’s metabolic rate by encouraging the energy-producing processes in the system. Improved metabolism can help in weight loss. Usually, this enzyme gets automatically activated during a cardio exercise and assists the muscles in utilizing stored sugar and fat for energy.
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The best way to eat grapefruit to reduce a few extra kilos is by incorporating it in your grapefruit diet menu. And here’s how you can do it:
Eat lots of protein for breakfast. Include eggs, bacon, or chicken sausage along with half a grapefruit. Having a lot of protein for breakfast will reduce the food cravings for the rest of the day.
For lunch, you can have one avocado, greens, a cup of brown rice, and boiled vegetables. Do not have white rice as it contains more starch and carbohydrates. Also, have half a grapefruit.
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Try to keep as simple as possible. Avoid rice and foods that have a lot of carbs. Have boiled veggies, millets, quinoa, etc. Include foods that are rich in fiber and protein content along with half a grapefruit.
While you are on this diet, eat only healthy foods. For a better understanding, kindly check the list below on what foods to avoid:
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By characteristics, grapefruit is suitable for everyone as it is a natural source of vitamin C(1). However, there might be a few exceptional cases where it doesn’t suit.
When eaten, a special chemical ingredient required to break down various drugs in the body in the grapefruit finds its way to the intestine. Now, access of this specific chemical could increase your blood levels drastically. As a result, the drug can become more powerful.
A similar impact has been found in almost all calcium channel blockers, which are utilized to control blood pressure. A few of them include Nisocor, Plendil, and Procardia. The result has also been found in Sandimmune, a medication that suppresses the immune system and tranquilizers, such as Xanax and Valium.
Separate types of medicines which may possibly interact with grapefruit include antihistamines, painkillers, steroids, and medications for asthma. Nevertheless, it does not mean there would be a side effect with every prescription or drug in these categories. Some might and some might not.
[Read: Effective Grapefruit Benefits]
Now, this means, if you want to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice, kindly consult your doctor or physician first. Because knowing what medication interacts and what doesn’t is essential before you start a new diet or include new food in your diet.
Don’t overthink about how grapefruit can help with weight loss. What you need to understand is that grapefruit is a citrus fruit and contains lots of vitamin C which is good for your body. Consuming a water-based fruit will let you consume fewer calories. As a result, weight loss will happen. All you need to do is just make sure grapefruit(2) doesn’t interact with your medication if you take any.
Yes, they can. People who have thyroid can consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice. However, it is recommended to consult your doctor to make sure there will be no side effects.
Yes, absolutely. Citrus fruits are naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, as well as folic acid, which will help in the proper development of the fetus. However, kindly consult your doctor first to make sure.
For weight loss, you can add one teaspoon of grapefruit oil to a glass of room temperature water and apply it topically. Grapefruit oil acts as an excellent diuretic and lymphatic stimulant.