A recent study has confirmed the multiple health benefits of grapefruit, including its ability to aid in weight loss, according to a report by Businesswire. A study published in the March 2006 issue of the Journal of Medicinal Foods is said to support the long-held belief that grapefruit is useful in the battle of the bulge.
Ken Fujioka, PhD, from Scripps Clinic in San Diego conducted a 12-week study of 100 obese men and women and found that consuming one-half of a grapefruit before meals resulted in an average weight loss of 3.6 pounds, with some participants losing up to 10 pounds. Individuals who ate the grapefruit had significantly lower levels of insulin in their blood, which the researchers speculate resulted in the weight loss.
The researchers further speculated that a natural plant compound in grapefruit, not the fiber content, was responsible for the weight loss since those who consumed grapefruit juice also lost weight despite the lack of fiber.