The Grapefruit diet (also known as the Hollywood diet and the 18-Day diet) is a short-term

fad diet A fad diet is a diet that becomes popular for a short time, similar to fads in fashion, without being a standard dietary recommendation, and often making unreasonable claims for fast weight loss or health improvements. There is no single defi ...

that has existed in the United States since at least the 1930s. 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 Low-carbohydrate diets restrict carbohydrate consumption relative to the average diet. Foods high in carbohydrates (e.g., sugar, bread, pasta) are limited, and replaced with foods containing a higher percentage of fat and protein (e.g., meat, ...

. A typical breakfast menu usually includes bacon and eggs. The diet is based on the claim that grapefruit has a fat-burning

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products ...

or similar property. The grapefruit diet does not require exercise. The grapefruit diet lasts for 10 to 12 days followed by 2 days off.

History

The grapefruit diet originated in the 1930s. It was originally known in 1929 as the "eighteen-day diet", and featured 18 days of grapefruit, orange, toast, vegetable and egg combinations, totalling approximately . 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 William James Mayo (June 29, 1861 – July 28, 1939) was a physician and surgeon in the United States and one of the seven founders of the Mayo Clinic. He and his brother, Charles Horace Mayo, both joined their father's private medical practic ...

and his brother 500 dollars () to create a special diet for her. The diet then became a fad in Hollywood and spread throughout America. The Mayo Clinic has disavowed the grapefruit diet. Novelist

Fannie Hurst Fannie Hurst (October 18, 1889 – February 23, 1968) was an American novelist and short-story writer whose works were highly popular during the post-World War I era. Her work combined sentimental, romantic themes with social issues of the d ...

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

Health risks

The diet was criticized as early as 1935.Malmberg, Carl. (1935)
''Diet and Die''
Hillman-Curl, Inc. pp. 99-100 Carl Malmberg commented that it lacks in all the necessary minerals (

calcium Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar t ...

phosphorus Phosphorus is a chemical element with the symbol P and atomic number 15. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms, white phosphorus and red phosphorus, but because it is highly reactive, phosphorus is never found as a free element on Ear ...

and

iron Iron () is a chemical element with Symbol (chemistry), symbol Fe (from la, Wikt:ferrum, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 element, group 8 of the periodic table. It is, Abundanc ...

) and in

vitamin A Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and an essential nutrient for humans. It is a group of organic compounds that includes retinol, retinal (also known as retinaldehyde), retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids (most notably ...

. He noted that many people became ill on the diet and "casualties" were heavy around Hollywood. In 1936,

Lewis Wolberg Lewis Robert Wolberg (July 4, 1905 – February 3, 1988) was an American psychoanalyst. He advocated the use of hypnoanalysis in psychiatric treatment. He wrote or edited 20 books, and in 1945 founded the Postgraduate Center for Mental Heal ...

described the diet as "nonsensical, irrational and even dangerous".Wolberg, Lewis. (1936)
''The Psychology of Eating''
New York: R. M. McBride & Company. p. 128 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. 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 citrus, or is taking medicines that can interact with grapefruit juice. This diet will not be beneficial to anyone when followed long-term, as the extremely low calorie intake could lead to malnutrition and many health problems.

References

External links

WebMD Grapefruit Diet Page
{{Fad diets Diets Grapefruit Fad diets Low-carbohydrate diets Pseudoscience

History

Health risks

See also

References

External links