What Diet Works Best, Part 1: Put Down The Grapefruit

Why is chosing a diet so hard? The information we receive about diets, food, and nutrition is confusing.  Millions of dollars are spent on weight loss schemes that never last.  So, how do you choose a diet that will work?  This post is the first in a series of articles exploring questions to ask when choosing a diet.  Here goes… Does the grapefruit diet work? It’s not the grapefruit’s fault.  This morning, however, I had three emails touting a celebrity with a “new” grapefruit diet to get in shape for the holidays.  This sort of thing drives me crazy.  First, celebrities aren’t experts in medicine or nutrition and they certainly aren’t experts in what will work for YOU.  In the case of grapefruit, this lack of expertise can be dangerous. Eating grapefruit interferes with the way your body processes many drugs.  In some cases this interference can be life threatening.  For example, people on some types of statin drugs used to treat high blood pressure should avoid grapefruit. Grapefruit messes with the enzyme that processes the statin and allows too much of the drug to build up in the body.  I learned a great deal about statins while working on a new cholesterol awareness campaign. In fact there are options for grapefruit lovers too – which is why it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about the medications you are taking before making drastic changes to the way you eat. Many other common medications interact with g...
Source: Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Award Winning Blog Heart Health grapefruit healthy diet nutrition Source Type: blogs