Grapefruit & Egg Diet

Grapefruit diets are not new. Grapefruits are a thermogenic food believed to increase weight loss. Thermogenic foods require more calories to digest than they contain. Eggs are high in protein and help you feel full longer. While the grapefruit and egg diet does result in weight loss, experts question its safety. The diet severely restricts calories and may be hard for many people to stick to because of its restricted menu.

3-Day Diet

The 3-day grapefruit and egg diet features the same meals over three days. The plan allows for protein options during the evening meal. A minimum of 8 glasses of water must be consumed during the day.

Breakfast each day consists of coffee, black tea or green tea with no milk or sugar, one slice of wheat toast, grapefruit and one egg. Lunch consists of grapefruit, your choice of steamed vegetables or mixed salad, 1 tbsp. of flaxseed or olive oil with lemon juice and a cup of black tea, green tea or coffee. Seasonings that do not contain salt can be used on vegetables and salad.
Dinner consists of grapefruit, a mixed green salad with lemon juice, steamed or raw vegetables (no portion limit) and 4 oz. of broiled or baked meat, poultry or fish.

Two snacks per day are allowed. The morning snack consists of 1 slice of whole wheat toast and 2 egg whites. The afternoon snack is more substantial: 1 apple, 2 egg whites, 1 piece of skim cheese and 1 cup of coffee, black tea or green tea.

12-Day Diet

The 12-day grapefruit and egg diet is an extended version of the 3-day plan. It restricts calories to between 800 and 1,000 a day. The 12-day plan allows dieters to add two slices of bacon to the breakfast menu. At lunch, two eggs are added. Butter is allowed to season vegetables. However, the extended plan allows only one snack, which is a glass of tomato juice or skim milk before bedtime. Dieters are encouraged to eat as many vegetables as they like. As on the 3-day plan, individuals must consume a minimum of 8 glasses a water each day.

Diet Restrictions

The grapefruit and egg diet does not allow for any diet sodas or sugar substitutes. In addition, salt, products that contain salt, milk and sugar are all banned. Only one cup of coffee, black tea or green tea is permitted per meal. Between meals, water is the only drink allowed.

Precautions

Grapefruit juice may interfere with prescription and over-the-counter medications. Dieters should not take medications within 1 hour of the meal.

The diet severely restricts calories, which may result in a slower metabolism. When calories are restricted, the body will make adjustments in the metabolism rate in an effort to restore balance. Eating too few calories for long periods makes it more difficult to lose weight.

Effectiveness

The grapefruit and egg diet does result in weight loss of about 2 to 4 pounds over a 3-day period. However, this result may be due to calorie restrictions and not the combination of foods in the diet.