Christian Finn's RESEARCH UPDATE: The Grapefruit Diet
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"News about the grapefruit diet that may surprise you"
The idea that grapefruit promotes weight loss is not news. But,
until recently, there were no studies to support this claim. That
all changed when researchers at Scripps Clinic of San Diego
decided to study the grapefruit diet.
"For years people have talked about the grapefruit diet, and some
even swear by it, but now, we have data that grapefruit helps
weight loss," says Dr. Ken Fujioka, a researcher at Scripps
Clinic.
Does this latest study mean that advocates of the grapefruit diet
were right all along? Let's take a closer look.
Researchers divided a group of 100 obese subjects into three
groups. One group ate half a grapefruit before each meal, one
group drank a glass of grapefruit juice before each meal, and one
group was instructed not to eat any grapefruit or drink any
grapefruit juice.
Those in the group that ate grapefruit with each meal lost an
average of 3.6 pounds. Subjects in the grapefruit juice group
lost an average of 3.3 pounds. A few of the subjects in both of
these groups lost nearly 10 pounds. Meanwhile, the average weight
loss in the group that consumed no grapefruit was less than one
pound.
Researchers believe that the grapefruit diet aids in the
management of insulin levels - a potential boon to dieters and
diabetics alike.
When the study was over, those on the grapefruit diet had lower
levels of insulin and blood sugar than they did at the start. In
the group who didn't follow the grapefruit diet, levels were
unchanged.
The Scripps researchers believe that enzymes in grapefruit help
to reduce insulin levels and encourage weight loss.
"Our study participants maintained their daily eating habits and
slightly enhanced their exercise routine," says Dr. Fujioka. "The
only dietary change was the intake of Florida grapefruit and
grapefruit juice."
"Our study shows grapefruit can play a vital role in overall
health and wellness, and in battling America's ever-growing
obesity epidemic," Fujioka adds. "Whether it's the properties of
grapefruit or its ability to satiate appetites, grapefruit
appeared to help with weight loss and decreased insulin levels
leading to better health. It's good the grapefruit diet never
lost its popularity among the public."
So, does this mean that the grapefruit diet is worth a try?
Not exactly.
As well as Scripps Clinic, the study was sponsored by the Florida
Department of Citrus, a state agency devoted to promoting Florida
citrus products.
Every study has to be paid for by somebody. Just because a trial
has been funded by a company with a vested interest in the
outcome doesn't mean you should ignore it. However, be very
cautious if the research is sponsored, especially where drugs,
foods or supplements are involved.
What's more, the study has yet to reach the pages of a
peer-reviewed journal. Research published in a peer-reviewed
journal carries more credibility because it undergoes scrutiny
from a panel of experts.
The press release issued by Scripps doesn't tell us enough about
how the study was done. Without this information, it's difficult
to make a judgement about what the results really mean for you
and me.
Reports of the study also perpetuate the myth that elevated
levels of insulin make you feel hungry.
"Lowering insulin levels also makes people feel less hungry,"
claims BBC Health News. "High levels of the hormone stimulate the
brain's hypothalamus, causing feelings of hunger."
This is not true. Insulin actually suppresses food intake.
In fact, some foods which stimulate a large release of insulin
also have a high satiety index (ling fish is just one example),
which means they keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with grapefruit. Like many
fruits, grapefruit has a low energy density and a low glycemic
load. Both are characteristics of an effective weight loss diet.
In fact, one study shows that a controlled diet including three
servings of fruit daily (apples or pears) is also linked with
weight loss.
The most important part of any diet designed for weight loss is
to consume fewer calories than you burn. Despite distorted media
reports to the contrary, the bottom line is there's still no
convincing evidence to show that a grapefruit diet is
significantly better than any other diet for helping you lose
weight.
To view this update on-line, including the full list of
references and a printable version, please visit:
http://thefactsaboutfitness.com/news...fruit-diet.htm
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