grapefruit essential oil

meldoy24
meldoy24 Posts: 6 Member
edited November 13 in Health and Weight Loss
I read that grapefruit essential oil can help with weight loss, put drops in water, has anyone tried it or heard about it? And from what I did read the oil doesn't affect your medication like grapefruit juice or the actual fruit?

Replies

  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    Wouldn't lemon juice do the same thing?
    Great value lemon - $2 a bottle
    http://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-100-Lemon-Juice-32-oz/12512024
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    meldoy24 wrote: »
    I read that grapefruit essential oil can help with weight loss, put drops in water, has anyone tried it or heard about it? And from what I did read the oil doesn't affect your medication like grapefruit juice or the actual fruit?

    NO!! Essential oils are not meant to be ingested and are usually toxic if ingested.

    This! Plus, grapefruit can interact with a variety of medication.
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    Sounds like the boiled down version of the grapefruit diet. The only benefit I can see would be for people who like grapefruit it may encourage them to drink more water because it has flavor. Otherwise right it interferes with medication, and if people just pick one up off the shelf it could cause other issues, as noted.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,744 Member
    I use grapefruit oil in my home made air freshener because it has a refreshing, citrus aroma. Ingesting grapefruit oil (making sure it is safe to ingest) won't aid in weight loss or better health.

    Where exactly did you "hear" this? Always consider the source.
  • jaynee7283
    jaynee7283 Posts: 160 Member
    I'll say again that there ARE food-grade essential oils available for purchase, but whether or not they will actually do what you want is doubtful. I know a few people who use food-grade essential oils such as oregano for cooking because the flavor is brighter than using McCormick spices.
  • caiteh86
    caiteh86 Posts: 243 Member
    I use DoTerra "Smart & Sassy" Blend, which is a blend of grapefruit, ginger, cinnamon and peppermint I believe. I love to diffuse it, but I also add a couple of drops to my water throughout the day because a) I like the taste, and b) it actually does suppress my appetite a little bit. I really don't know why, but it does. (Drinking plain water does not have the same effect for me).
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,342 Member
    There are essential oils made to be ingested. The grapefruit one that I have cost 9$. I add about 5-7 drops into a liter of water. I got it because I heard that it can help with cravings however I have seen other articles say it is supposed to help the body break down fat. I don't know if that's true or not. When you are dieting and exercising you are going to lose weight regardless of if you take the oil or not. This is what I like about the grapefruit oil. It's not sweet or sour when you add it into your water. There is just a delicious orange flavor and 'tingle' left on your tounge after a drink. It makes me want to drink more water. I normally drink about two liters of water a day but with a few drops of the grapefruit oil it makes me want to drink about 3 liters or more. I have also noticed that when I do get hungry it's not as strong of a hunger that I would normally have. This could be the oil but it could be the amount of water I intake. Also a plus it makes your burpes taste like oranges. I have only been drinking it for about 3 days so I can't tell you if I feel like it's making me drop weight. But I can tell you that I like it and I will continue to enjoy my oil water.

    I drink a lot of sparkling water with lemon or lime juice in it and while I don't have any belief in weight loss properties for oils, you've made me want to buy this just for the flavour. Thanks!
  • ccrdragon
    ccrdragon Posts: 3,374 Member
    caiteh86 wrote: »
    I use DoTerra "Smart & Sassy" Blend, which is a blend of grapefruit, ginger, cinnamon and peppermint I believe. I love to diffuse it, but I also add a couple of drops to my water throughout the day because a) I like the taste, and b) it actually does suppress my appetite a little bit. I really don't know why, but it does. (Drinking plain water does not have the same effect for me).

    I would think this would be the only true advantage to using the oils (for people where it has this effect). As to extra fat burning, nope.
  • ladyhusker39
    ladyhusker39 Posts: 1,406 Member
    Oil and water do not mix. You are not diluting it by putting it in water. Ingesting undiluted essential oils can do all sorts of things to you.

    I did this with lemon oil a few times and it resulted in a gall bladder attack. I literally thought I was going to die. I stopped doing it and have never had an episode like that again.

    I wouldn't recommend it. Anyone with a strong educational background in essential oils (as in, more than what the person selling you oils through an MLM probably has) would not recommend this except in certain, rare, circumstances. And even then, you would put the oil in a pill capsule, not in your water.

    DoTerra and Young Living absolutely mortify me. Any reputable, non MLM essential oil company will emphatically tell you that the risks of ingesting essential oils far outweighs any perceived or marketing "benefits". It's just not worth it.

    Having said that, there is such a thing as "food grade" oils which are different from essential oils. Those are specifically formulated for ingestion and are safe to use as some people in this thread have suggested.
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