Mayo Clinic Diet

The Mayo Clinic Diet continues to cause considerable confusion. This is not an “official” Mayo Clinic Diet. The Mayo Clinic health center (based in Rochester, USA) categorically states that it had never endorsed any diet plan until December 2005, when it was announced that the official Mayo Clinic Plan was available via the Internet.

The clinic does however provide a number of guidelines for healthy eating – including the new Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid (aka Mayo Clinic Food Pyramid).

What is the unofficial “Mayo Clinic Diet”?



What was supposedly the Mayo Clinic Diet is a fad or crash diet. It is based around grapefruit, lots of salad and protein, and little carbohydrates. Weight loss was supposed to be in the region of 50-55 pounds in 10 weeks.

Mayo Clinic Diet – Meal Plan

This is a copy of the fad diet – and it IS NOT RECOMMENDED. Representives from the Mayo Clinic have disavowed this diet. From the Medical Edge Newsletter July 2005:

“Versions of a Mayo Clinic Diet have been circulating for decades. Most push grapefruit, eggs, cabbage soup or meat and promise dramatic weight loss. None of these diets is associated with or has been endorsed by Mayo Clinic.”

12 days on – 2 days off

Breakfast
1/2 Grapefruit or 4 oz. Grapefruit Juice (unsweetened)
2 Eggs (any style)
2 Slices Bacon
Lunch
1/2 Grapefruit or 4 oz. Grapefruit Juice (unsweetened)
Meat (any style, any amount)
Salad (any kind of dressing)
Dinner
1/2 Grapefruit or 4 oz. Grapefruit Juice (unsweetened)
Meat (any style, any amount) (fish may be substituted for meat)
Vegetables (any green, yellow, or red vegetables cooked in butter or any seasoning)
Bed Time Snack
1 glass tomato juice or 1 glass Skim milk

Vegetables Allowed
Red onions, green onions, bell peppers, radishes, cucumbers, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, peas.

Vegetables to Avoid
 White onions, potatoes, celery.

Find other high protein meal ideas here.

Instructions

  1. At any meal you may eat until you are full – until you can’t eat any more.
  2. Don’t eliminate anything from the diet, especially don’t skip bacon at breakfast or omit salads. It is the combination of foods that burn fat.
  3. The grapefruit is important because it acts as a catalyst that starts the burning process.
  4. Cut down on caffeine – it affects the insulin balance that hinders the burning process. Try to limit to 1 cup per meal at mealtime.
  5. Don’t eat between meals. If you eat the combination of food suggested you will not be hungry.
  6. Note that the diet completely eliminates sugar and starches, which are lipids and form fat. Fat doesn’t form fat; it helps burn it. You can fry food in butter and use butter generously on vegetables.
  7. Do not eat desserts, bread, and white vegetables or sweet potatoes. You may double or triple helpings of meat, salad, or vegetables. Eat until you are stuffed. The more you eat of the proper combination of food, the more you lose.

See Also

The Mayo Client has just released their Official  Diet developed by their own staff.
The Mayo Clinic Plan
MayoClinic.com – Health information from the Official Mayo Clinic.
MayoClinic.org – Official site of the actual Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minneapolis, USA.
Fad Diets – Article about Fad or Crash Diets.

320 Comments

  • I can read! Just wondering instead of the skim milk for evening snack wonder if it could be used for mealtime coffe or would it interfere with “the process”?

    by Jackee on 6/27/08

  • New Mayo Clinic diet says 8 oz. grapefruit juice also cheese and hot dogs don’t see it on this version guess that is where some of the questions are coming from

    by jackee on 6/27/08

  • no cauliflower I think it is a white excluded vegetable

    by jackee on 6/27/08

  • Hello everyone,
    My husband and I are desperate to lose a few pounds. We are both going to start on it tomorrow. All the comments really help. Can’t wait to see if it works. I am going on vacation in 12 days but I will check back when I return.

    by Shirley on 6/27/08

  • Hi, I need to lose weight for my septmeber vication, so Im hoping to lose at least 50lbs. So Im give it a try on first thing on Monday.

    by Abbie on 6/28/08

  • Hello today is day 1 of my diet. (6-30-08) I am so excited about everyones weight loss. I know i can do this. By the way can we have cheese on ths diet. See ya in 12 days for an update. :)

    by May on 6/30/08

  • WOW THIS DIET IS A JOKE….JUST EAT PLAIN VEGS (RAW) AND CHICKEN AND DRINK LOTS OF WATER…AND YOULL LOSE WEIGHT,…..

    by FATTY on 6/30/08

  • cant eat bacon for religious reasons,what should i eat instead.
    also what fruits are we allowed to eat?

    by Abbie on 7/1/08

  • THIS DIET WORKS – I did it a few months ago and lost 10lbs in 12 days – I am back on tomorrow because I have friends coming to visit. If I could lose another 12 1lbs – It would be perfect! Try it with exercise …. what do you have to lose? You’ll look forward to breakfast! Good Luck!

    by Notabudof24 on 7/2/08

  • Hi I have been on this diet for about 5 weeks now I’ve lost about 20lbs. I feel so much better and my energy level is as high as its ever been.

    by Happy on 7/2/08

  • hi gals/guys!

    so i started this diet tree days ago and i dont see any progress but im sure i will in a week or two… well i was just wondering if drinking the grapfruit guice works better than eating the half of grapfruit??? well please if you know the answer to this question it would really help

    Thanks

    by HELP!!!! on 7/2/08

  • To help…I find that the fruit last longer than the juice. I have done this diet b4 and lost…I gained weight with my last pregancy (30 lbs) and I am doing this again as I have 55 pounds to loose. Stick with the plan and do your 12 days on and 2 days off. I’ve been back on this for 5 days and have lost 7 pounds.

    by Maine on 7/3/08

  • i started the diet on June 19, when i get on the scale it does not show that i have lost any weight but, my clothes are fitting loosely so maybe it is working

    by Bthomas on 7/3/08

  • Hi, I’m starting this on 7/5/08. I hope I can lose weight on it. Check back in 12 days.

    by DETERMINED on 7/3/08

  • This diet is great. I started it 11 days ago and have lost 10 pounds.. I only have another 10 to go and then need to just keep it off. Any suggestions for maintaing.

    by Linda on 7/4/08

  • i’m just wondering if on your 2 days off you can eat anything?
    cause i don’t wanna put back on the weight in those 2 days which i lost in the 12 days

    thanks :)

    by Mayodieter on 7/6/08

  • can we eat anything on 2 days off?

    by help.. on 7/6/08

  • I will start tomorrow 7-07-08.This diet does work.My brother lost 50 lbs and I lost 17 lbs the first 12 days.I have 120 lbs to lose.I was on this diet 10 years ago and I was losing so fast,17 lbs the first 12 days,then when I went off for the 2 days,I could not restart my weight lose for anything. I cried.I am desperate to try again.

    by neon on 7/6/08

  • If bacon is against your religion you can substitute olive oil because fat is what you really need for breakfast, and bacon is almost all fat.

    by neon on 7/6/08

  • Dairy products, such as cheese, will slow weight loss. Stick to the New Mayo Clinic Diet. It is the best.

    by neon on 7/6/08

  • If you are a vegetarian, soy products are fine, but you will lose weight a lot slower.Be sure to stick to pure products, as additives will not help you.

    by neon on 7/6/08

  • I’m so tired of starting diets I am starting this one on 6-7-08 I know it’s not a life-style change but it will be a jump start for me.

    by lori j on 7/6/08

  • its a gd diet :)

    by leen on 7/7/08

  • I also started today.. 7/7/08. I did this a couple of years ago and lost 17 lbs the first 12 days but I never went back on it. I am ready to stick to it longer this time around. Also, I did not have the new version at the time that includes hotdogs, chili with no beans and a couple of other items so this time there is more variety.

    by kim on 7/7/08

  • I just started the diet 7 days ago, i like to chew gum. Can I have sugar free gum?

    by lisa on 7/7/08

  • I have a quick question, when you say that you have lost the weight…is it physically shown or just on the scale? Because I’m very interested in doing this diet but I’m afraid I’ll lose my fat in all the wrong places…such as my breasts, rather than losing it in my target areas such as my thighs, waist, and stomach. Please reply ASAP because once you respond, I’ll be starting my diet!

    by Ashlee on 7/8/08

  • If you absolutely hate grapefruit, you can swallow grapefruit capsules from vitamin stores.Be sure they are 100% grapefruit and follow the directions on how many capsules equal a half grapefruit.The grapefruit is important to start the burning process.

    by neon on 7/9/08

  • Can I chew sugar free gum

    by lisa on 7/9/08

  • Can I chew sugar free gum?

    by lisa on 7/9/08

  • What can we put on the salad??

    by Anonymous on 7/9/08
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Date Created / Updated: August 10, 2010