Grapefruit Juice Before a Workout to Burn More Fat

ating before a workout is essential to providing the body energy. Food fuels workouts and optimizes performance. However, pinpointing which foods are good for workout sustenance may be difficult. If your goal is to burn more fat while supplying your body with needed energy, grapefruit may be the perfect pre-workout food, notes a 2009 study in the "Journal of Nutrition."

Grapefruit: A Low-Glycemic Food

According to the 2009 study published in the "Journal of Nutrition," eating a low-glycemic breakfast before workouts burns 50 percent more fat than eating a high-glycemic breakfast. Grapefruit is identified as a low-glycemic food that prevents blood sugar from spiking. A low-glycemic breakfast may encompass consuming half of a grapefruit with skimmed milk, whole grains, porridge, eggs, bacon, yogurt or linseed bread. Drinking unsweetened grapefruit juice can be substituted for eating a grapefruit.

Grapefruit: A Fat-Burning Food

Grapefruit has been an integral part of many diets since the 1930s ranging from the Hollywood diet to the grapefruit diet. A 2006 study in the "Journal of Medicinal Food" confirmed the weight loss and fat-burning benefits of grapefruit. The fat-burning mechanism in grapefruit is unknown at this time. However, the high fiber content in grapefruit is known to burn more calories during the digestive process than calories in the grapefruit itself. Additionally, grapefruit's low sodium and 90 percent water composition aid in flushing excess fluids from the body, which diminishes the appearance of cellulite.

Vitamin C

Half of a grapefruit contains 80 percent of the recommended daily vitamin C, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pink and red grapefruit are packed with more vitamins and nutrients than white grapefruit. Vitamin C supports immune functioning, enhances the detoxification process and aids in the production of collagen. The antioxidant properties in vitamin C prevent collagen damage, which can make fat deposits less visible.

Warnings

According to MayoClinic.com, the consumption of grapefruit may interfere with the absorption of some nutrients and the functioning of some antibiotics. Consult your physician before engaging in a new dietary or exercise regimen.