Grapefruit diet

The Grapefruit diet (also known as the Hollywood diet and the 18-Day diet) is a short-term fad diet that has existed in the United States since at least the 1930s.[1] There are variations on the diet, although it generally consists of eating one grapefruit at each meal, along with meat, eggs, other foods that are rich in fat and protein, and certain vegetables. Sugar, fruits (other than grapefruit), sweet vegetables, grains and starchy vegetables are to be avoided. The grapefruit diet is thus a low-carbohydrate diet. A typical breakfast menu usually includes bacon and eggs. The diet is based on the claim that grapefruit has a fat-burning enzyme or similar property. The grapefruit diet does not require exercise. The grapefruit diet lasts for 10 to 12 days followed by 2 days off.

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Article on the 18-Day Diet in 1929

History

The grapefruit diet originated in the 1930s.[2] It was originally known as the "eighteen-day diet" and featured 18 days of grapefruit, orange, toast, vegetable and egg combinations, totalling approximately 500 calories.[3] The originator of the diet is not known. One rumour traces the diet to actress Ethel Barrymore, who is alleged to have paid William James Mayo and his brother 500 dollars to create a special diet for her.[3] The diet then became a fad in Hollywood and spread throughout America.[3] The Mayo Clinic has disavowed the grapefruit diet.[4]

Novelist Fannie Hurst was a notable devotee of the diet.[5] It was re-popularized in the 1980s and nicknamed the "10-day, 10-pounds-off diet".[6] The idea that grapefruit eaten before a meal acts as a "catalyst" to burn body fat has no evidence from biochemistry.[6]

Health risks

The diet was criticized as early as 1935.[7] Carl Malmberg commented that it lacks in all the necessary minerals (calcium, phosphorus and iron) and in vitamin A. He noted that many people became ill on the diet and casualties were heavy around Hollywood.[7] In 1936, Lewis Wolberg described the diet as "nonsensical, irrational and even dangerous".[8]

The variations of the grapefruit diet that are too low in calories (below 800–1,000 calories a day), too low in carbohydrates, or too low in essential micronutrients are considered unhealthy and potentially dangerous.[9] While eating half a grapefruit with every meal may be a good way to incorporate more fruit in the diet of a healthy person, grapefruit and grapefruit juice is harmful if the dieter is allergic to citruses or is taking medicines that can interact with grapefruit juice.[10][11] This diet will not be beneficial to anyone over a long time as the extremely low calorie intake could lead to malnutrition and many health problems.

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See also
  • List of fad diets

References
  1. Grieger, Lynn (2007-11-08). "Grapefruit diets". Your Total Health. iVillage. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  2. William F. Williams (2 December 2013). Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience: From Alien Abductions to Zone Therapy. Routledge. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-135-95522-9.
  3. Addison, Heather. (2003). Hollywood and the Rise of Physical Culture. Routledge. p. 39. ISBN 0-415-94676-X
  4. Buchwald, Henry; Cowan, George S. M; Pories, Walter J. (2007). Surgical Management of Obesity. Elsevier. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-4160-0089-1
  5. "Fellows Find: Fannie Hurst and Diets". Ransom Center Magazine. Retrieved 4 January, 2020.
  6. Taylor, Keith B.; Anthony (1983). Clinical Nutrition. Luean E. McGraw-Hill. p. 170. ISBN 0-07-063185-9. The Grapefruit Diet: Another name for this diet is the "10-day, 10-pounds- off diet." The premise of this diet is that grapefruit eaten before each meal acts as a "catalyst" to burn body fat and thereby causes hastened weight loss. This claim has no support from a biochemical standpoint and cannot be substantiated.
  7. Malmberg, Carl. (1935). Diet and Die. Hillman-Curl, Inc. pp. 99-100
  8. Wolberg, Lewis. (1936). The Psychology of Eating. New York: R. M. McBride & Company. p. 128
  9. Asp, Karen. "Grapefruit Diet Review". AOL Health. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  10. Grieger, Lynn (2007-11-08). "Grapefruit diets". Your Total Health. iVillage. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  11. Callahan, Maureen. "The Grapefruit Diet". Health.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
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