Tuesday Tidbits: Grapefruit and dieting

Remember the “grapefruit diet” – which promised fast weight loss over a period of ten days or so by including grapefruit with every low-calorie meal? Well, maybe there WAS something to that crazy old diet, after all.

Although there is no scientific evidence to support the notion that there is an enzyme in grapefruit that will magically burn fat, recent studies have shown that grapefruit (including unsweetened grapefruit juice) may encourage weight loss and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Study participants who ate a grapefruit at each meal for 12 weeks lost an average of 3.6 pounds (some in the group lost as much as 10 pounds), while a comparison group that didn't eat grapefruit lost 1/2 pound. Researchers noticed that after the meals, the grapefruit eaters also had reduced levels of insulin and blood sugar.

According to the American Dietetic Association, "if you lose weight when you add grapefruit to your eating plan, it's probably because you're substituting it for another food that has more calories."

So? What’s wrong with that? If you’ve ever eaten a grapefruit, you know it takes a bit of time and effort to eat - plus it will give you 3.5 grams of fiber and only 74 calories.

No word yet on the health benefits of adding a shot of vodka to that grapefruit juice…but it sure is refreshing on a summer morning afternoon.

Note: Grapefruit may interfere with the effectiveness of some medications – and may even be dangerous. These drugs include cholesterol-lowering drugs, blood pressure medications, anti-HIV medications and drugs for erectile dysfunction - so check with your pharmacist if you're taking any medication.