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The Truth About the
Mayo Clinic Diet

Quality medical care and research are associated with the Mayo Clinic. And rightfully so. This reputation is well earned.

With clinics in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona; over 2500 physicians and scientists; and 42,000 more health care specialists and staff, the Mayo Clinic and Foundation have been respected in the field of medicine for over 100 years.

So naturally when we hear "The Mayo Clinic Diet," also known as the "grapefruit diet," we pay attention. We believe we're really going to get something good. How does that saying go? "There's an exception to every rule."

Here's the exception for the Mayo Clinic. First off, the Mayo Clinic Diet is sometimes the name given for a diet plan based mainly on eggs, meat and grapefruit. Some of the claims are that it is used on cardiac wards for patients who need to lose weight quickly. And the other claim is the grapefruit acts as a catalyst to burn fat.

This Mayo Clinic Diet is high in cholesterol and saturated fat. Both the American Heart Association and the British Heart Foundation warn that such a diet can cause heart problems.

Okay, fine. Now how in the world can such a diet be endorsed by the Mayo Clinic? The answer is simple: The Mayo Clinic does not endorse this diet. And it's not even certain exactly how such a diet ever got the name it enjoys or where it came from. Plus, it has been around since the 1940s. A tenacious myth to say the least.

How it got started doesn't really matter. Know this: The Mayo Clinic grapefruit diet is a myth. Such a diet was not developed by the Mayo Clinic and it certainly does not endorse it. It wasn't valid in the 1940s and it isn't valid now.

One common characteristic to all versions of this mythical and unhealthy diet is this: They are "one-size-fits-all" diets which limit the variety of foods and promise dramatic weight loss.

Just know that this Mayo Clinic grapefruit diet or any version pushing eggs or meat in unhealthy proportions at the expense of other foods (i.e., balance of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, etc.), is a hoax. So forget this mythical grapefruit diet and stick with what works.

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All information on this website is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or care which you should always seek. Diet and exercise programs should not be followed without first consulting a health care professional. If you have any special health conditions requiring attention, you should consult with your health care professional regularly regarding possible modification of programs found on this website. Medical and health related information may change quickly and we cannot verify the accuracy or timeliness of any of this information.