Can grapefruit really make you thin?
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(iStock)
Remember the Grapefruit Diet from way back that had us eating the citrus fruit at breakfast, lunch and dinner? That plan may have been just a kooky fad, but new research shows grapefruit is actually a powerful diet food.
A review of data from 2003 to 2008 reveals that, on average, women who consumed any amount of grapefruit or grapefruit juice weighed nearly 10 pounds less and had a 6 percent lower body mass index (BMI) than their non-grapefruit-eating counterparts.
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Researchers aren't exactly sure what makes grapefruit lovers slimmer, but study co-author Gail Rampersaud, a registered dietitian from the University of Florida, says it could be the simplest of reasons: "Consuming fruits and vegetables with a high water content, like grapefruit, helps you feel fuller and more satisfied on fewer calories." (Half of a medium grapefruit or an 8-ounce glass of juice has fewer than 100 cals each).
The fruit is also a source of vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium, but Rampersaud says there's no evidence revealing any magical fat-burning ingredient at work, as proponents of the old Grapefruit Diet have claimed.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}To reap the benefits, Rampersaud suggests making the tart and tangy fruit or juice part of your daily diet.
Not a grapefruit lover? Based on this and other studies, starting meals with water-rich foods, such as cucumber or watermelon, could have a similar effect, says Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, also a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.