How to Reduce Weight With Grapefruits

Grapefruit is a low-calorie food dense in nutrients. It supplies high levels of vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber. While grapefruit can be a nutritious part of a healthy diet, it has also been promoted as part of The Grapefruit Diet, a fad diet that drastically limits a dieter's caloric intake to promote rapid weight loss in an unhealthy manner. Fad diets are not recommended and do not promote long-term weight loss or health benefits. However, grapefruit can easily be incorporated into a healthy diet and lifestyle to help achieve lasting weight loss.

Things You'll Need

• Grapefruit

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Instructions

• 1

  Choose high quality, in-season grapefruit; the peak-growing season is in the fall and winter months. Grapefruit is available year-round but out-of-season fruit has either been stored for a long time or imported from foreign producers, thereby reducing nutritional value.

• 2

  Sprinkle your favorite no-calorie sweetener on sectioned grapefruit for a sweet treat.

  Substitute grapefruit for one meal per day. Because of grapefruit's high fiber and low calorie content, you will achieve a feeling of fullness without consuming a large amount of calories. Ideal ways to consume grapefruit include sectioned and sprinkled with your no-calorie sweetener of choice, blended in a smoothie with strawberries or juiced.

• 3

  Consume healthy foods in addition to your single grapefruit meal per day. Even though grapefruit is a low-calorie food, the rest of your diet plays an important roll in weight loss as well. Choose lean or low-fat sources of protein, reduced-fat varieties of dairy products, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and whole grains for a well-balanced diet.

• 4

  Limit desserts and sweets to a very small percentage of your overall diet or choose to have a grapefruit for dessert. The natural sweetness provides a satisfying end to a meal.