Mayo Clinic
Reviewed By:
Lynn Grieger, RD
Mayo Clinic Diet basics
A low-carbohydrate diet plan that allows you to eat as much as you want of the prescribed foods.
The Mayo Clinic Diet is based on somewhat dubious science claiming that grapefruits and their juice burn fat and that it doesn't matter how much fat, cholesterol or sugar you eat.
It is important to note that The Mayo Clinic Diet has never been endorsed by the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Various incarnations of the diet have been around for the past 30 years. All focus on using grapefruit at each meal as a way to encourage your body to burn fat. Most rely on large portions of meat and fat to stop hunger, and insist that eating more fat in your diet will actually lead to weight loss.
The real Mayo Clinic has healthy eating information on its Web site that is unrelated to the Mayo Clinic Diet .
Upside of the Mayo Clinic Diet
-
You get to eat as much meat as you want, and fried foods are actually encouraged.
-
You won't be hungry because you're encouraged to "eat until you are stuffed" and you will lose weight quickly.
Downside of the Mayo Clinic Diet
-
This diet simply does not work for long-term weight management.
-
It contains no complex carbohydrates and can cause physical weakness and lack of concentration.
-
The foods that are encouraged are unhealthy if eaten in large amounts. And the healthy foods such as fresh vegetables are avoided.
-
In the real world, the fat that we eat does not cause us to lose weight, and there is nothing in grapefruit that makes our body use fat for energy.
Is the Mayo Clinic Diet for You?
This chart can help you see how the Mayo Clinic Diet fits your goals and lifestyle concerns.
Duration
|
Two and a half months |
Restaurants
|
You will need to order carefully and request extremely large portions; the best bet may be a buffet |
| Alcohol |
No |
| Caffeine |
It's suggested that you limit coffee or tea with caffeine to one cup with meals |
| Special Foods |
No |
| Family Friendly |
No |
| Vegetarian Friendly |
No |
Lynn Grieger, RD on the Mayo Clinic Diet
The folks at the Mayo Clinic emphatically state this diet is a sham, and so do I. Do not try this diet!
iVillagers on the Mayo Clinic Diet
"I have lost 45 pounds total on this diet. In the first three months I lost 30 pounds. I started out with just the diet and then added exercise. I now run two miles three times a week and feel great. This diet is very easy to follow." -- iVillager tlskib
"I tried this diet back in the 60s. The grapefruit tore my gut up so bad I thought I was going to die! I lost 30 pounds and then gained it all back." -- iVillager marlys49to30
See what other iVillagers have to say and weigh in with your own comments and stories on our Message Boards:
