The best time to eat grapefruit for weight loss is at breakfast, or before the main meal of the day. Fiber in grapefruit regulates appetite. Half a grapefruit before a high calorie meal can reduce energy intake.
A great time to eat grapefruit is at breakfast
Grapefruit is good for people who want to lose weight. A whole grapefruit has only 75 calories, it’s low in sugars, and it keeps you full for hours.[1]
Get vitamin C & other antioxidants in the morning
Above all, you should eat grapefruit at breakfast, because it’s particularly rich in vitamin C. A whole grapefruit has about 90 mg of vitamin C, which is the Daily Value (DV). Vitamin C is necessary for weight loss, as it’s involved in fat metabolism. Furthermore, better consume foods high in vitamin C in the morning, as it can protect you from the dangerous sun radiation and other key factors that lead to oxidative stress.
Moreover, grapefruit has a high antioxidant content. We need to consume a wide variety of foods high in antioxidants in order to prevent oxidative stress. Chronic oxidative stress can lead to obesity. Boosting our body with antioxidants first thing in the morning helps us lose weight. For instance, pink grapefruit is a good dietary source of lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant which can help us burn body fat and also, deal with obesity-associated disorders.[2,3]
Grapefruit in the morning doesn’t spike blood glucose levels
Also, breakfast is a great time to consume grapefruit, as grapefruit has a pretty low glycemic index. Actually, grapefruit has a glycemic index of 25 and a glycemic load of 3.[4] It means that people who want to lose weight can safely eat grapefruit on an empty stomach! Grapefruit won’t spike blood sugar as much as other fruits. It’s a great snack for obese people or people with diabetes.
Avoid consuming grapefruit juice at breakfast, though. Grapefruit juice doesn’t regulate hunger. It contains negligible amounts of fiber, whereas it’s richer in sugar than the whole fruit.
You can have a serving of oatmeal and half a grapefruit for breakfast. Oatmeal regulates appetite for hours, as it’s high in protein and fiber.
The best time to eat grapefruit for weight loss is before the main meal of the day
Furthermore, a great time to eat grapefruit is before the main meal of the day. Grapefruit is rich in water and fiber. A whole grapefruit has about 230 g of water! Also, it has 2.7 g of fiber, which is almost 10% of the DV. Water and fiber promote satiety. So, they help us control energy intake!
Caloric deficit is key for weight loss. After all, a whole grapefruit has only 75 calories!
Following a diet high in fiber can help you lose weight, improve body composition, and reduce the total percentage of fat in the body. We need about 28 g of fiber a day.[5]
Additionally, grapefruit is good for weight loss, as it significantly improves glycemic response after a meal. Also, grapefruit improves insulin resistance.[6]
Moreover, eating half a grapefruit before the main meal of the day can reduce waist circumference and systolic blood pressure.[7]
Furthermore, grapefruit is rich in potassium. Half a grapefruit has 156 mg of potassium. Eating half a grapefruit before a meal high in salt is good for weight loss. Potassium neutralizes the negative effects of sodium. A diet high in potassium has been associated with a low body mass index (BMI), small waist circumference, and a low risk of obesity! Avocados and bananas are the richest fruits in potassium, though.
Grapefruit at dinner supports weight loss
Also, you could lose weight, consuming grapefruit for dinner. As a rule of thumb, we should consume foods low in calories at dinner, if we want to lose weight. Most people tend to overconsume calories at night. Additionally, vitamin C in grapefruit may help you sleep better at night.
You can eat grapefruit after exercise
Last, but not least, a great time to eat grapefruit is after exercise. Grapefruit is 92% water, and it’s high in electrolytes! Actually, grapefruit juice hydrates athletes better than tap water.
Avoid consuming grapefruit right before a workout, though. Fiber in grapefruit may cause discomfort, or bloating.
On the contrary, a great time to drink grapefruit juice is before exercise. It provides energy and hydrates the body! Avoid drinking grapefruit juice at night. Sugar in grapefruit may negatively affect your sleep.
