The Mayo Clinic Grapefruit Diet
Review and Recommendations
Disclaimer: The Mayo Clinic Grapefruit Diet was not developed by the Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota nor has it ever been endorsed by the Mayo Clinic.
Mayo Clinic Diet Background
Over the last 30 years or more, a diet emphasizing a regimen of grapefruit, salads, vegetables, and generous amounts of fats and meats (protein) has been associated with the Mayo Clinic. However, this so called Mayo Clinic Diet did not originate at the Mayo Clinic and has no substantive nutritional basis. In fact, representatives of the Mayo Clinic and other nutritionists indicate that this diet regimen may even be dangerous for some people.Note that the Mayo Clinic developed a diet program known as the Mayo Clinic Plan in 2005 that is based on the established Food Pyramid.
How the “Diet” Works
Though I do not recommend this diet, here is an outline of how the diet works so that you can recognize it and be aware of what to look out for. My recommendation is that you consider a nutritionally-balanced and sound alternative when looking for a weight loss program or diet to follow.
This diet is a high-protein and high-fat eating plan. You may see a number of different variations of this diet, lasting anywhere from three to 12 days, each including different foods. Regardless of which version of the diet you see, it suggests that you eat: - ½ grapefruit or 4oz of unsweetened grapefruit juice with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- 2 eggs and bacon with breakfast
- Unlimited amounts of meat (any kind), poultry and fish with lunch and dinner.
- Unlimited amounts of salad (with any dressing) for lunch
- Unlimited amounts of most vegetables, with some exceptions*, prepared any way you like for dinner.
*Vegetables not allowed - starchy vegetables such as white onions, potatoes, peas, carrots, and corn are to be avoided due to higher carbohydrate content.Other telling characteristics of the Mayo Clinic Grapefruit Diet are that you should “eat until you are stuffed” and that you should repeat a cycle where you follow the diet for 12 days and then take 2 days off.
Grapefruit is Not the Culprit
Not to give the grapefruit a bad rap, there has been some study into the potential benefits of adding grapefruit to your diet for the purposes of weight loss. In fact, in a 2004 study headed by Dr. Ken Fujioka at the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic, participants lost an average of 3.6 pounds over 12 weeks eating half a grapefruit with each meal. Many participants of Dr. Fujioka's study lost more than 10 pounds.
Dr. Fujioka found that adding generous amounts of grapefruit to your diet appears to reduce insulin levels and, thus, affects blood sugar regulation. There is also evidence in the report that participants “slightly enhanced their exercise regimens” which may help explain the modest weight loss results as well.
Conclusion
Other than the potential benefits of grapefruit, there are no nutritional or health benefits of this plan. If you follow this Mayo Clinic Grapefruit Diet, you may lose weight but only because you will likely eat less due to the rigid and restrictive nature of the plan. There are so many other options out there to choose from, which have at least some nutritional basis, that I feel there is no reason to try this one.
Return from Mayo Clinic Grapefruit Diet to Popular Fad Diets
Return from Mayo Clinic Grapefruit Diet to Success with Weight Loss Programs
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