RESEARCH
FOR GRAPEFRUIT
The favorite fruit of slimming experts belongs to the citrus category and is none other than grapefruit, which is a cross between an orange and a citron. According to a 2005 animal study published in the journal Neuroscience Letters, inhaling the scent of grapefruit oil three times a week can reduce food intake and, consequently, body weight.
THE GRAPEFRUIT
It boosts metabolism and reduces appetite, naturally supporting weight loss!
WHAT DOES GRAPEFRUIT DO
This citrus fruit is a favourite of many. Studies say that if you smell it before you eat it, it can boost your weight loss efforts. Researchers at Osaka University found that exposing rats to the smell of grapefruit helped reduce their weight and appetite.
This has to do with how this smell interacts with liver enzymes. Grapefruit is rich in naringin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can protect us from diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
As Healthline reports, a new analysis of multiple studies found that regular grapefruit consumption resulted in a reduction in body fat, waist circumference and blood pressure in participants. Meanwhile, according to the medical website Medical News Today, a new study from the Center for Research on Nutrition and Metabolism found that adding grapefruit to participants’ daily diets had impressive results in terms of weight loss.
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WHAT THE RESEARCHES SHOWED
A natural boost to your weight loss efforts!
During the study, 100 people (men and women) were asked to eat half a grapefruit or drink a small glass of grapefruit juice after each meal (3 times a day) for 12 weeks. Their diet remained the same as before the study started, and their physical activity increased very little.
At the end of the experiment, those who ate half a grapefruit had lost an average of 1.6 kg, while those who drank the juice had lost 1.5 kg. However, there were several who lost 4.5 kg or more. In addition to the weight of the participants, the researchers also monitored various metabolic factors such as insulin and other hormone secretion.
Specifically for insulin, scientists discovered that the chemical properties of grapefruit resulted in lower insulin levels in the body, thus encouraging weight loss.
We note that insulin plays an important role in regulating metabolism and the way our body stores fat. Experts believe that another reason that may have led to the participants’ weight loss is that grapefruit seems to reduce people’s appetite and increase feelings of satiety.
“The only change in the participants’ diet was the addition of grapefruit.
Our study shows that this fruit may be vital for people’s health and wellbeing, as well as an important weapon against the obesity epidemic. The grapefruit diet is beneficial to health in many ways,” said Dr. Fujioka, lead author of the study.
