2371
Citrus fruits are often used in the menu of various diets and weight loss programs. A fasting day on grapefruit is one of the most effective ways to quickly lose a few extra pounds and improve your well-being. Due to the high content of vitamins and beneficial microelements, it has a complex effect on the body.
In addition to fighting fat deposits, grapefruit is used to cleanse the body of waste and toxins, as well as to improve the functioning of the immune system.
The fruits contain a large amount of fiber and acids, but few calories, which allows citrus to be classified as a dietary food. Grapefruit has a pleasant taste, making the process of losing weight easy and relaxed, delivering only positive emotions.
Beneficial features
Citrus fruits, which are the result of crossing a pomelo and an orange, have amazing medicinal properties. Grapefruit contains quinic acid and glycosides, and the calorie content of 100 g of fruit pulp is 29 kcal. They can be eaten either in pure form or in the form of juice or nectar, the calorie content of which is 30 and 44 kcal, respectively. The slightly bitter zest is used to flavor dishes.
The fruit contains fruit acids that act as antioxidants. Thanks to this feature, eating grapefruit normalizes cholesterol levels in the blood. Fruit juice has a positive effect on the functions of the heart and blood vessels, improves appetite and the functioning of the digestive system.
Nitric oxide and high vitamin E content prevent vascular sclerotization, and flavonoids protect blood cells from active oxygen molecules. Potassium lowers blood pressure, making the fruit useful for people suffering from hypertension.
Like all citrus fruits, grapefruits contain large amounts of vitamin C, which boosts immunity and has an anti-inflammatory effect. The low sugar content helps normalize metabolism and helps in the breakdown of fat deposits in obesity and diabetes.
On a note! The peel and white films surrounding the fruit pulp contain the substance naringin. It stimulates the liver and the digestion process. Thanks to these properties, metabolism improves, which promotes rapid weight loss. By regularly adding zest to drinks or salads, you can enhance the fat-burning effect.
By periodically arranging a fasting day, you can not only lose a few extra pounds, but also cleanse your body of toxins. Citrus fruits remove excess fluid and relieve swelling, which is very important for weight loss. They have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system and have a general strengthening effect.
Having a complex effect on all systems of the body, fasting days help not only to regain harmony, but also to improve overall health in a short time.
Operating principle
A properly carried out grapefruit fasting day triggers processes in the body, each of which works for weight loss:
- metabolic processes are stimulated;
- fats are burned, especially when combined with protein foods (eggs, kefir, milk, cottage cheese, in protein shakes);
- low calorie content (only 32 kcal) does not allow fats to be stored in reserve, since they simply are not in the diet;
- RCC are converted into useful energy;
- toxins are eliminated;
- the functioning of the endocrine, nervous, and cardiovascular systems is normalized, which helps to cope with hunger strike steadily and without side effects;
- the functioning of the stomach improves.
Despite such an endless stream of processes triggered in the body by grapefruits, the results can be very modest. As practice shows, they rarely go beyond 1 kg. Usually losses are only 500-700 g. For some this is very little. However, scientifically everything is quite explainable.
The main goal of regular fasting days is to cleanse the body of excess fluid. For this purpose, products with a diuretic or laxative effect are used. Weight loss is achieved due to the substances removed in this way. Grapefruit works differently because it is an active fat burner. Its task is to remove the volume of the waist, hips and other problematic parts of the body. But this is too long a process. Therefore, a fasting day based on it is a kind of launching pad for subsequent effective diets for the purpose of long-term and sustainable weight loss.
This is interesting. Many people think that grapefruit is a “relative” of lemon and orange. In fact, this is the result of an experimental cross between a lemon and a pomelo.
Rules for fasting days
Grapefruit has a slightly bitter taste, so it goes well with any food: meat, fish, vegetables and fruits. It is not recommended to consume fruits as a main component during a diet (due to their high acid content).
However, it can be used as an auxiliary ingredient in various dishes: salads, soups, casseroles, etc. The menu should also include the use of the fruit in its pure form, but in strictly limited quantities (pulp, juice, zest).
Be sure to read: What methods do models use to lose weight? The most effective diets
To effectively lose weight, it is important to follow certain rules:
- In the daily diet, the content of grapefruit should not exceed 50% of the total food;
- Eating the fruit on an empty stomach is contraindicated;
- Do not eat grapefruit in the evening and before bed during fasting days;
- The fruits must be combined with other foods or served as dessert after meals;
- Fruit acids destroy tooth enamel, so after eating citrus fruit in its pure form, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with clean water.
After completing the fasting days, you must follow the exit rules. You should not radically change your diet and include a large number of fatty and sweet foods. Do not load your stomach with heavy food in the evening and before bed. Over the course of several days, you will need to gradually add more high-calorie foods, eating them in small portions.
On the first day after fasting, it is recommended to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. In the next two days, it is not advisable to include flour and fried foods in the menu. You can return to your usual diet within 5-6 days.
To consolidate the result and avoid regaining lost kilograms, for preventive purposes it is recommended to include grapefruit in the menu at least once a week. If you need to repeat the fasting day, you will need to give up fatty foods the evening before.
Contraindications and recommendations
Despite all the benefits of unloading on sunny citrus, there are also contraindications:
- Pain in the stomach and intestines.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Anorexia.
- Poor health.
- Individual intolerance.
- Taking medications.
General useful recommendations for use:
- The daily weight of fruits should not be more than 50% of the total amount of food.
- Do not eat citrus on an empty stomach.
- The fruit is best consumed during a meal or immediately after it.
- Combine citrus with other protein foods, not carbohydrates.
How and with what is it better to eat grapefruits?
The taste of grapefruit goes well with other foods, so it allows you to create various culinary combinations. The fruits highlight the taste of herbs, spices and other exotic fruits. A good combination of citrus with fish and meat, poultry and mushrooms.
The most interesting and useful combinations that can be used as a basis for fasting days:
- Protein products (nuts, fish, poultry, legumes);
- Eggs;
- Mushrooms;
- All citrus fruits;
- Sour grape varieties;
- Apples;
- Plums;
- Tomatoes;
- Green or white tea.
Menu options
The fruit can be consumed as a mono-diet, but it is better to choose one of the additional ingredients for joint use. Certain foods will help convert calories into energy and speed up the fat burning process.
With natural coffee
You can choose any type of drink, except instant. A small mug contains about 2 kcal, so you don't have to worry about your figure. A cup of coffee during a diet energizes the body. It is permissible to drink up to 4 cups of coffee per day and eat about 3-4 citrus fruits. Because The drink has a slight diuretic effect, and excess weight quickly disappears. You can alternate between taking coffee and fruit or use it together. In the evening, it is better to drink grapefruit juice, because drinking coffee can lead to insomnia.
With green tea
Green tea improves metabolism, removes toxins from the body, has a positive effect on the condition of teeth, reduces hunger and promotes fat burning. The basic rule of the diet is to consume 3-4 grapefruits and up to 4 cups of tea per day. It is recommended to divide it into 3-4 doses.
With egg
The source of protein maintains normal muscle mass, promotes the production of the joy hormone, lowers cholesterol levels, is easily digestible and causes a feeling of quick satiety. Diet for 1 day - up to 5 egg whites and 3-4 grapefruits. First you need to eat fruit, and after a couple of hours - protein. You can drink purified water in any quantity and green tea without added sugar.
Due to the different acidity, eggs should be eaten only a couple of hours after grapefruit.
With Chiken
Chicken meat contains many vitamins and microelements. It contains large amounts of B vitamins, iron, selenium, calcium and iodine. You need to use chicken fillet. The dietary product must be boiled and the fat removed. Instead of salt, you can use a small amount of spices. Divide the chicken breast into 5-6 portions. Eat half a fruit and a portion of breast every 2 hours. You can drink purified water 45–60 minutes after meals.
With kefir
Fermented milk product is good for digestion. It softens the effect of grapefruit on the gastrointestinal mucosa, restores intestinal function, normalizes sleep, relieves depression and promotes weight loss. It is necessary to choose low-fat kefir for a fasting day. In the morning you need to drink a glass of kefir, and after 2 hours eat half a grapefruit.
With vegetables
Cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, carrots, broccoli, and lettuce are suitable additions to the grapefruit diet. Vegetables can be combined or eaten separately, but without salt. Eat 200–300 g of vegetables and grapefruit after 2 hours.
Contraindications
There are combinations that should be avoided. You cannot combine citrus fruits with milk. If you want to drink a glass of milk, it should be consumed separately, as an independent product.
You should not consume citrus if you have chronic diseases of the heart and blood vessels, or during their exacerbation. Grapefruit lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, so during drug treatment of hypotension and vascular disorders, eating the fruit can be hazardous to health.
A combination of grapefruit and medications can cause harm to health. The fruit contains furanocoumarins, which enhance the effect of drugs, increasing their concentration in the blood. As a result, side effects from an overdose of the medicine may occur.
Composition and properties
All beneficial properties of grapefruit are determined by its chemical composition. Main substances:
- naringin (an irreplaceable assistant in normalizing metabolism);
- bergamottin;
- glycosides (the peel contains them);
- quinic acid (in zest);
- antioxidants;
- lycopene;
- furanocoumarins (strengthen the effect of drugs and provoke an overdose effect when used simultaneously);
- vitamins: riboflavin, ascorbic acid;
- minerals: calcium, zinc, iron, sodium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus;
- alimentary fiber;
- essential oils.
Nutritional value per 100 g of product (pink variety):
Thanks to such a rich chemical composition, grapefruit, in addition to being useful for weight loss, helps improve health:
- reduces the risk of developing cancer (contains unique substances that restore damaged DNA and stop the spread of tumor cells);
- controls the level of cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins in the blood;
- improves the condition of ischemia;
- useful for diseases of the circulatory system, because it activates the growth of new vessels and capillaries;
- strengthens the immune system;
- copes with depression, relieves fatigue, eliminates insomnia;
- lowers blood pressure;
- has antimicrobial and antifungal effects;
- increases the acidity of gastric juice, relieves constipation;
- prevents the development of osteoporosis.
To treat and prevent the above diseases, it is enough to consume one grapefruit a day for 1-2 weeks: half in the morning and in the evening.
Through the pages of history. This citrus was first learned about in 1750 from the works of the Welsh priest (and part-time botanist) Griffiths Hughes. He called it “forbidden fruit,” but another name has taken root in the world - “little sheddock” because of its striking resemblance to a pomelo (its second colloquial name is sheddock).
Method of use
The tasty and juicy fruit can be eaten for dessert by simply peeling it. However, during fasting days, in order to maximize its dietary properties, it is recommended to consume it in the form of:
- Puree. It’s easy to prepare: cut the fruit in half, separate the pulp and grind it in a blender. For taste, you can add a little vanilla, cinnamon or honey.
- Juice. Since citrus fruits contain a large amount of acids, it is recommended to dilute the juice with water or other juices (vegetables, fruits). A good dietary combination is provided by mixtures with carrot, beet, apple and pumpkin juices. A fat-burning drink with pineapple is recommended for an “express” fasting day, which is part of a strict three-day diet for quick weight loss of 3-4 kilograms.
- An independent treat or one of the components of a complex dish. Pieces of pulp can be added to salads and snacks, vegetable and fruit mixtures, sauces and marinades.
Be sure to read: Where to start eating right and how to get used to such a diet?
How to choose grapefruit and how to cut it
How to choose. Ripe fruits should have a strong aroma. This indicates the freshness of the fruit. It should also be heavy. This will mean that it is not dried out and is juicy and has a thin skin. Choose grapefruit with a shiny rind that may be yellow, pinkish or orange.
What to cut. It is convenient to cut grapefruits with a special knife, which is a small curved blade with teeth. The shape of the blade helps to grasp the round fruit, and the teeth make it easier to separate the skin, segments and membranes covering the segments.
<<< Using special knives prevents damage to the pulp when dividing grapefruit into segments and removing the skin. >>>
Options for fasting days
The main principle of fasting days with grapefruit is the intensive cleansing of the body from excess fluid and toxins. Usually this procedure lasts 1-2 days and consists not only of a special menu, which includes not only citrus fruits, but also other products.
Unloading the body is a set of measures, including nutrition, proper diet and exercise. Regardless of the type of menu, it is important to stick to a meal schedule and perform simple exercises.
Cleaning
The easiest way to cleanse the body of toxins and excess fluid is to consume 300 g of grapefruit at a time every day. On average, fruits weigh from 500 to 600 g, so it is enough to distribute 2-3 fruits per day (half at a time). During cleansing, citrus fruits should be eaten half an hour before the main meal. In this case, the fruits will not stimulate appetite, but, on the contrary, suppress it.
During breakfast or dinner, in addition to grapefruit, you can eat 1-2 cucumbers or 100 g of steamed oatmeal porridge. You can replace the fruit pulp with 1 glass of juice.
Cleaning should be done no more than 10 times a month. To cleanse the body and break down fats more effectively, you can take a bath with grapefruit oil in the middle of the day or before bed.
Grapefruit and egg
A chicken egg is one of the most popular dietary products. It is often included in the menu of diets and weight loss programs. A fasting day on eggs and grapefruits helps you quickly lose several kilograms of excess weight and maintain the result for a long time.
Since it is recommended to eat no more than 2 eggs and 4 grapefruits during the day, even if repeating is necessary, you cannot have two fasting days in a row. The minimum interval between fasting days is at least 2 days.
The fasting day menu looks like this:
- Breakfast: 2 hard-boiled eggs + 1 grapefruit;
- 2 breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon snack and dinner each with a grapefruit and a glass of water.
For the best effect you should:
- Repeat fasting days for a month on the same days (Tuesday-Friday, Wednesday-Saturday).
- During the day, drink 6-8 glasses of clean drinking water (still).
- Have dinner 3 hours before bedtime.
The result of regular fasting days on eggs and grapefruit for 4 weeks will be: normalization of intestinal function, enrichment of the body with vitamins and increased metabolism.
During the intermediate days, it is advisable to avoid eating large amounts of fatty foods and sweets.
On squirrels and grapefruits
Protein products are often used in various programs for weight loss and weight stabilization. There are a number of diets where proteins are the main ingredient for preparing dishes. Fasting days differ from diets in their short duration - they are usually carried out no more than 1-2 times a week.
The menu for such short-term fasting includes: beans, poultry and fish, seafood, etc. Thanks to the large selection of high-protein foods, the diet can include a wide variety of dishes: from salads to soups. A fasting day on proteins and grapefruits is an express method with which you can quickly lose 1-2 kilograms without resorting to grueling hunger strikes.
The effect of this method of losing weight is achieved due to the fact that:
- All fats and carbohydrates are excluded from the menu;
- the body requires more energy to break down and digest protein foods;
- all products provide a long-lasting feeling of fullness;
- appetite decreases and metabolism accelerates.
Be sure to read: How to lose weight in your calves and achieve lasting results?
One fasting day on proteins and grapefruits will help you lose 1-2 kilograms, but will not get rid of your excess weight problem.
First of all, during unloading, the body is cleansed of toxins and excess fluid, so fat deposits on the sides and abdomen remain. To achieve the desired result, unloading should be carried out regularly for 1-2 months at equal intervals (3-4 days). Only then will it be possible to achieve good results and significantly reduce weight.
On grapefruit and green tea
The beneficial properties of green tea have been known since ancient times. This drink helps improve metabolism and cleanses the body of toxins. It is recommended to be included in the menu for everyone who cares about their health and also has problems with obesity and excess weight.
One fasting day on grapefruit and green tea will not solve the problem completely, but it can slightly normalize the water-salt balance in the body. If you are going to lose a few kilograms and stabilize your weight, you need to perform these procedures regularly.
Grapefruit contains all the vitamins and enzymes necessary for the body that help burn fat deposits. In combination with green tea, the effect of unloading is enhanced several times.
There are certain rules for spending a fasting day on tea and grapefruit:
- You can eat any amount of citrus fruits and drink only this drink;
- You cannot add sugar or other sweeteners (a little natural honey is allowed);
- To stabilize weight, it is necessary to carry out these activities at least twice a week.
Unloading methods
Grapefruit is considered the king of fasting. There are two main options for an express diet:
- mono diet for one day:
Food | Products |
Breakfast | ½ grapefruit |
Lunch | 200 ml grapefruit juice |
Dinner | Whole citrus |
Afternoon snack | 200 ml grapefruit juice |
Dinner | ½ grapefruit |
Before going to bed | 250 ml citrus juice |
- mixed diet from 1 day to 7 days:
Food | Products |
Breakfast | Egg + ½ grapefruit |
Lunch | Glass of kefir-grapefruit cocktail |
Dinner | 200 g boiled chicken + ½ grapefruit |
Afternoon snack | Glass of grapefruit milkshake |
Dinner | 100 g cottage cheese + ½ grapefruit |
Before going to bed | 250 ml citrus juice |
With egg
Grapefruit contains enzymes that help speed up metabolism. Eggs are easily digestible proteins that give you a feeling of fullness. Egg-grapefruit express unloading is guaranteed to help quickly get rid of fat. Here are options for strict diets, where the proportion “in three days – 3 kg slimmer” works:
- Eat half a citrus fruit six times a day + one boiled egg three times.
- Three hard-boiled eggs and three fruits. First they eat the fruit, and an hour later - the egg.
- In the morning, on an empty stomach, - 250 ml of water, half an hour later - 1 protein, then - sunny fruit.
Important! You can’t eat carbohydrate, sweet or salty foods.
There are mild mixed diets based on eggs and grapefruit. Here is an example of a diet for a week:
Week by day | Diet |
Day 1 | We have breakfast: green tea, 2 eggs, half a citrus fruit. Lunch: 150 g chicken, one grapefruit, 1 egg. Dinner: 200 g chicken, 200 ml kefir. |
Day 2 | Breakfast: grapefruit juice, 2 eggs. Lunch: 2 grapefruits, 200 g chicken. Dinner: 2 proteins, one citrus. |
Day 3 | Breakfast: warm water with lemon, 1 egg. Lunch: 200 g of chicken, one grapefruit. Dinner: 2 eggs, a glass of mineral water. |
Day 4 | We have breakfast: omelet sprinkled with herbs, kefir. Lunch: chicken legs, ½ grapefruit. Dinner: egg, 1 citrus. |
Day 5 | Breakfast: carrot salad, greens, 1 egg. Lunch: fresh grapefruit, 2 raw carrots. Dinner: 200 g fish, 1 egg, mineral water. |
Day 6 | Breakfast: 100 g low-fat cottage cheese, grapefruit juice. Lunch: 2 eggs, 2 citruses. Dinner: mineral water. |
Day 7 | We have breakfast: 2 eggs, 2 grapefruits. Lunch: 200 g chicken, 1 fruit. Dinner: mineral water. |
With green tea
Green tea is a healthy drink for anyone who wants to lose weight. It perfectly normalizes digestion and metabolism, being a stimulator of brain activity. It also has a supply of antioxidant properties.
Following a citrus diet in combination with green tea will help you lose weight quickly.
Ingredients for making green tea with grapefruit:
- 1 l. water;
- 5 green tea bags;
- 1 large fruit;
- 1 large spoon with honey (optional).
Attention! During unloading, you should consume no more than 1 kg of citrus fruits and no more than 4 glasses of green tea per day, having previously divided them into equal parts.
Here is one of the optimal options for a tea-grapefruit express diet designed for a day:
- Breakfast: 2 cups of green tea +1 citrus.
- Lunch: fruit smoothie + mug of green tea.
- Dinner: grapefruit puree.
Green tea significantly dulls appetite and serves as an unsurpassed diuretic.
With coffee
Grapefruit goes well with coffee. If we talk about coffee, its effect is felt 15 minutes after drinking: the effects of caffeine last up to 4 hours. The level of arousal and brain activity depends on the type of coffee: the most effective are less processed varieties.
Scientists recommend drinking no more than 3 cups of coffee per day.
Attention! When grapefruit juice is added to a coffee drink, the effect of coffee, which stimulates the body, is extended several times.
The work of caffeine is prolonged by a substance called naringin. Most naringin is found in the fruit, which is why the citrus has a bitter taste.
Naringin has many properties: anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant.
Note! Naringin in a duet with caffeine greatly enhances the effect of coffee and accelerates metabolic processes in the body by 15%. Fast and effective fat burning occurs.
You should use this delicious duet wisely:
- a cup of coffee;
- 2 teaspoons fresh grapefruit juice.
Important! Do not add sugar when consuming.
As a result, a new original taste will open and the effect of coffee will last.
Nutritionists recommend not consuming more than 3 fruits and 3 cups of coffee per day. The result will be noticeable immediately after finishing the mono-diet.
With vegetables and fruits
Some vegetables and fruits are absolutely incompatible with each other. Sour fruits should not be eaten together. They are good to consume with semi-acidic fruits, as well as nuts and non-starchy vegetables.
This directly applies to grapefruit: it cannot be combined with orange, lemon, tangerine, kiwi and lime.
A fruit and vegetable diet is very useful for weight loss. Its principle is to eat 2-3 grapefruits in combination with other fruits and vegetables. High-calorie bananas, grapes and potatoes should be excluded.
Vegetables + grapefruit
- goes well with non-starchy vegetables:
Combines | Doesn't match |
Non-starchy vegetables:
Green and red onions are especially good. | Starchy vegetables:
|
Fruit + grapefruit
- goes well with non-acidic fruits:
Menu sample | Quantity |
Breakfast:
|
|
Lunch and breakfast Peach salad:
|
|
In this case, be sure to drink up to 2.5 liters of water (herbal tea) throughout the day.
You may also be interested in: Fasting day with smoothies
Option of protein unloading on eggs
With cereals
Cereals are, first of all, starch. All foods rich in starch should be treated very carefully. Starch in its pure form is difficult to digest by our body.
The combination of “grapefruit + cereal” is equivalent to the combination of “acid + starch”.
Such consumption is undesirable for our body: the acid neutralizes the substances necessary for the breakdown of starch.
Any cereals are best combined with vegetables seasoned with vegetable fats.
Three-day option
By choosing this diet option you can lose up to 4 kilograms. During the day you can eat:
- two medium grapefruits;
- two eggs;
- one medium potato, which can be boiled, microwaved or baked in the oven without fat;
- one apple.
In the morning we prepare grapefruit and an egg for breakfast; by lunchtime the potatoes should be ready, which will have to be eaten without butter and sauce. For the afternoon snack, we’ll make a salad by cutting up an apple and half a grapefruit, and in the evening we’ll eat an egg and the half of grapefruit left over from the afternoon snack. Don't forget to drink a lot.
This diet is quite strict; the proposed diet is unlikely to make you feel full. But the diet gives excellent results, although after a while most of the lost kilograms will most likely return. Therefore, a three-day diet is worth choosing if you urgently need to lose weight before some significant event.