One of the popular fad diets in Hollywood was the grapefruit diet. It first came to fame in the 1930’s when many stars used it. It remained popular until the mid-1970s, when it became one of the diets that was faxed around from machine to machine, popularly known as xerox lore. The diet is attributed to the Mayo Clinic, which clearly states that it has nothing to do with diet and that the diet is not good.

The grapefruit diet is essentially like the Atkins diet with the addition of a grapefruit before each meal. There are no snacks allowed on this strict three meals a day diet. The diet claimed that people could lose 10 pounds in 10 days, or 5 pounds in five days. The distribution was just as far fetched – no weight loss for four days then five pounds lost all on the fifth day. It was based on the claim that grapefruit contains fat burning enzymes, something that has never been proven.

Researchers showed that the diet may work in a 2004 study. 1/2 grapefruit with each meal helped people lose 3.6 pounds in only 12 weeks. Those who drank the serving of grapefruit juice at each meal lost just slightly less weight in the same period of time. Many of the participants lost more than 10 pounds in 12 weeks. Researchers attributed the weight loss to decreased insulin levels caused by eating grapefruit. But the weight loss may have also been due to increased levels of exercise.

Here are the rules for the grapefruit diet:

- Drink eight servings of water a day.
- Stop eating when full.
- Eat every item of food listed for each meal because the menus are formulated to burn fat.
- The catalyst t the whole process is grapefruit, so don’t cut it.
- Try to avoid coffee, but if drunk consume only three cups a day.
- No snacking.
- Butter can be used.
- No starches or sweets can be eaten.
- Eat any amount of meat, salad and vegetables to make you full.
- Eating more will actually result in more weight loss.
- Follow the diet for 12 days, skip two days, then start again.
- Grapefruit comes before every meal - ฝ fruit or 18 ounces of the juice.

Give the grapefruit diet a try.