Grapefruit diet

History

The grapefruit diet originated in the 1930s. initially, it was referred to as the "eighteen-day diet" in 1929 , consisting of grapefruit, orange, toast, vegetable and egg combinations for 18 days, totaling approximately 500 kcal. 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 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 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. Carl Malmberg commented that it lacks in all the necessary minerals (calcium, phosphorus and iron) and in vitamin A. He noted that many people became ill on the diet and "casualties" were heavy around Hollywood. In 1936, Lewis Wolberg described the diet as "nonsensical, irrational and even dangerous".

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

References

1. Grieger, Lynn. (2007-11-08). "Grapefruit diets". [[iVillage]].
2. William F. Williams. (2 December 2013). "Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience: From Alien Abductions to Zone Therapy". Routledge.
3. Addison, Heather. (2003). "Hollywood and the Rise of Physical Culture". Routledge.
4. Buchwald, Henry; Cowan, George S. M; Pories, Walter J. (2007). ''Surgical Management of Obesity''. Elsevier. p. 84. {{ISBN. 978-1-4160-0089-1
5. [https://sites.utexas.edu/ransomcentermagazine/2009/12/08/fellows-find-fannie-hurst-and-diets/ "Fellows Find: Fannie Hurst and Diets"]. Ransom Center Magazine. Retrieved 4 January, 2020.
6. Taylor, Keith B.. (1983). "Clinical Nutrition". McGraw-Hill.
7. Malmberg, Carl. (1935). [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003489162&view=1up&seq=105 ''Diet and Die'']. Hillman-Curl, Inc. pp. 99-100
8. Wolberg, Lewis. (1936). [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89043225358&view=1up&seq=144 ''The Psychology of Eating'']. New York: R. M. McBride & Company. p. 128
9. Asp, Karen. "Grapefruit Diet Review". AOL Health.
10. Grieger, Lynn. (2007-11-08). "Grapefruit diets". [[iVillage]].
11. Callahan, Maureen. "The Grapefruit Diet". Health.com.