What does fact checked mean?
At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- “Journal of Medicinal Food”; The Effects of Grapefruit on Weight and Insulin Resistance: Relationship to Metabolic Syndrome; K. Fujioka, et al.; 2006.
- “Journal of Medicinal Food”; The Effects of Grapefruit on Weight and Insulin Resistance: Relationship to Metabolic Syndrome; K. Fujioka, et al.; 2006.
- MayoClinic.com: I Like to Drink Grapefruit Juice but Hear that It Can Interfere with Some of My Prescription Medication. Is That True?; Katherine Zeratsky
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Grapefruit Juice Before a Workout to Burn More Fat
Eating before a workout is essential to providing the body energy. Food fuels workouts and optimizes performance. However, pinpointing which foods are good for workout sustenance may be difficult. If your goal is to burn more fat while supplying your body with needed energy, grapefruit may be the perfect pre-workout food, notes a 2009 study in the “Journal of Nutrition.”
Grapefruit: A Low-Glycemic Food
According to the 2009 study published in the “Journal of Nutrition," eating a low-glycemic breakfast before workouts burns 50 percent more fat than eating a high-glycemic breakfast. Grapefruit is identified as a low-glycemic food that prevents blood sugar from spiking. A low-glycemic breakfast may encompass consuming half of a grapefruit with skimmed milk, whole grains, porridge, eggs, bacon, yogurt or linseed bread. Drinking unsweetened grapefruit juice can be substituted for eating a grapefruit.
- According to the 2009 study published in the “Journal of Nutrition," eating a low-glycemic breakfast before workouts burns 50 percent more fat than eating a high-glycemic breakfast.
- A low-glycemic breakfast may encompass consuming half of a grapefruit with skimmed milk, whole grains, porridge, eggs, bacon, yogurt or linseed bread.
Grapefruit: A Fat-Burning Food
Calories in Half a Grapefruit
Learn More
Grapefruit has been an integral part of many diets since the 1930s ranging from the Hollywood diet to the grapefruit diet. A 2006 study in the “Journal of Medicinal Food” confirmed the weight loss and fat-burning benefits of grapefruit 1. The fat-burning mechanism in grapefruit is unknown at this time. However, the high fiber content in grapefruit is known to burn more calories during the digestive process than calories in the grapefruit itself. Additionally, grapefruit’s low sodium and 90 percent water composition aid in flushing excess fluids from the body, which diminishes the appearance of cellulite.
- Grapefruit has been an integral part of many diets since the 1930s ranging from the Hollywood diet to the grapefruit diet.
- Additionally, grapefruit’s low sodium and 90 percent water composition aid in flushing excess fluids from the body, which diminishes the appearance of cellulite.
Vitamin C
Half of a grapefruit contains 80 percent of the recommended daily vitamin C, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pink and red grapefruit are packed with more vitamins and nutrients than white grapefruit. Vitamin C supports immune functioning, enhances the detoxification process and aids in the production of collagen. The antioxidant properties in vitamin C prevent collagen damage, which can make fat deposits less visible.
- Half of a grapefruit contains 80 percent of the recommended daily vitamin C, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- The antioxidant properties in vitamin C prevent collagen damage, which can make fat deposits less visible.
Warnings
Should You Drink Grapefruit Juice Before Working Out?
Learn More
According to MayoClinic.com, the consumption of grapefruit may interfere with the absorption of some nutrients and the functioning of some antibiotics 2. Consult your physician before engaging in a new dietary or exercise regimen.
Related Articles
Calories in Half a Grapefruit
Learn More
Should You Drink Grapefruit Juice Before Working Out?
Learn More
What Are the Health Benefits of Drinking Pineapple Juice?
Learn More
What Are the Benefits of Grapefruit Pills?
Learn More
Does Grapefruit Juice Burn Belly Fat?
Learn More
Grapefruit Glycemic Index
Learn More
Can You Use Lemon Juice to Remove Warts?
Learn More
PLJ Lemon Juice Diet
Learn More
What Are the Benefits of Grapefruit Pectin?
Learn More
Foods and Vitamins to Help Heal Nerve Endings
Learn More
References
- “Journal of Medicinal Food”; The Effects of Grapefruit on Weight and Insulin Resistance: Relationship to Metabolic Syndrome; K. Fujioka, et al.; 2006.
- MayoClinic.com: I Like to Drink Grapefruit Juice but Hear that It Can Interfere with Some of My Prescription Medication. Is That True?; Katherine Zeratsky
- Scutts J. The Depression Era’s Magic Bullet For Weight Loss. The New Republic. Published May 27, 2016.
- Mugnolo C. What You Should Know About the Unofficial Mayo Clinic Grapefruit Diet. Livestrong.com. Updated September 17, 2019.
- Thomson TL. Ahrens JM. The Grapefruit Solution: Lower Your Cholesterol, Lose Weight and Achieve Optimal Health with Nature's Wonder Fruit. Carlsbad, California: LINX Corporation; 2004.
- Woman's World. The Grapefruit Diet Hack That Blasts Belly Bulge in Days. August 16, 2019
- Diet.com. Grapefruit diet.
- Picincu A. Livestrong.com. 21 Day Grapefruit Diet. Updated June 10, 2019.
- Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital. Health Library - Grapefruit Diet. Updated June 16, 2017.
- Murphy MM, Barraj LM, Rampersaud GC. Consumption of grapefruit is associated with higher nutrient intakes and diet quality among adults, and more favorable anthropometrics in women, NHANES 2003-2008. Food Nutr Res. 2014;58. doi:10.3402/fnr.v58.22179
- Bailey DG, Dresser G, Arnold JM. Grapefruit-medication interactions: forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences?. CMAJ. 2013;185(4):309-16. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120951
- Colucci P, Yue CS, Ducharme M, Benvenga S. A Review of the Pharmacokinetics of Levothyroxine for the Treatment of Hypothyroidism. Eur Endocrinol. 2013;9(1):40-47. doi:10.17925/EE.2013.09.01.40
- Lee JW, Morris JK, Wald NJ. Grapefruit Juice and Statins. Am J Med. 2016;129(1):26-9. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.07.036
- El-Hage W, Samuel L, Vincent C, Catherine B. Mechanisms of antidepressant resistance. Front Pharmacol. 2013;4:146. doi:10.3389/fphar.2013.00146
- Murphy MM, Barraj LM, Rampersaud GC. Consumption of grapefruit is associated with higher nutrient intakes and diet quality among adults, and more favorable anthropometrics in women, NHANES 2003-2008. Food Nutr Res. 2014;58. doi:10.3402/fnr.v58.22179
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. Grapefruit, raw, pink and red, all areas. Updated April 1, 2019.
- Fujioka K, Greenway F, Sheard J, Ying Y. The effects of grapefruit on weight and insulin resistance: relationship to the metabolic syndrome. J Med Food. 2006;9(1):49-54. doi:10.1089/jmf.2006.9.49
- Abdul hakim BN, Yahya HM, Shahar S, Abdul manaf Z, Damanhuri H. Effect of Sequence of Fruit Intake in a Meal on Satiety. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(22). doi:10.3390/ijerph16224464
- Onakpoya I, O'sullivan J, Heneghan C, Thompson M. The effect of grapefruits (Citrus paradisi) on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017;57(3):602-612. doi:10.1080/10408398.2014.901292
- Buddemeyer KM, Alexander AE, Secor SM. Negative calorie foods: An empirical examination of what is fact or fiction. bioRxiv. doi:10.1101/586958
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition. Published December 2015.
- Foley KE. Quartz. A short history of terrible diets. September 1, 2018
- Bertoia ML, Mukamal KJ, Cahill LE, et al. Changes in Intake of Fruits and Vegetables and Weight Change in United States Men and Women Followed for Up to 24 Years: Analysis from Three Prospective Cohort Studies. PLoS Med. 2015;12(9):e1001878. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001878
- Thompson C. Livestrong.com. What Is the Egg Diet, and Can It Help You Lose Weight?. Updated January 30, 2020.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Staying Away from Fad Diets. March 18, 2019.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Calorie counting made easy.
- LaMotte S. CNN Health. Military diet: 3-day diet or dud?. March 8, 2018.
- Rettner R. HuffPost. M Plan, New Mushroom Diet Promising Selective Weight Loss, Won’t Work, Experts Say. September 9, 2013.
Writer Bio
Suzanne Allen has been writing since 2004, with work published in "Eating for Longevity" and "Journal of Health Psychology." She is a certified group wellness instructor and personal trainer. Allen holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and information sciences, a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Master of Arts in clinical psychology.