Grapefruit

The health benefits of grapefruit are
too many to be overlooked.
Its rind contains many anti-cancer
agents that help fight a host of diseases.

The grapefruit is a large orange-like fruit that belongs to the citrus family.  It is a somewhat "new" addition to the family, deriving from a natural cross-breeding between orange and pomelo, thus its size.

The diameter of a grapefruit, depending on its variety, can range between four and six inches.  Its rind (the white matter under the skin) is about a quarter to half an inch thick.  The fruit's skin looks like that of an orange, but its flesh comes in white, pink or red. 

It is called a grapefruit simply because it grows in clusters, like grapes.  The taste of a grapefruit can be bitter and sour but it has so many health benefits.

Nutritional Benefits

Grapefruit doesn't only contain vitamin C which is commonly known to be protective against cold or flu.  It is not just one nutrient that helps prevent a certain disease, but rather the combination of several ingredients in it that does the trick.  This is the kind of nutritional power that we can find only in the way God makes our natural food.

This juicy fruit contains citric acid, natural sugars, essential oils like limonene, pinene and citral.  It has high amounts of vitamin C, and smaller amounts of vitamin A, B complex, E and K. 

In the mineral department, larger amounts of calcium, folic acid, phosphorus, and potassium are found.  The nutritive phytonutrients of this voluptuous fruit¾liminoids, flavonoids, lycopene and glucarates¾help fight cancer and various diseases.

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Health Benefits

When eating or juicing grapefruit, peel off the skin but leave as much rind intact as possible.  Include the rind as it contains the highest amount of valuable bioflavonoids and other anti-cancer agents.

Acidity:  Although grapefruit has a sub-acid taste, its juice actually has an alkaline reaction after digestion.  This has a profound effect in the treatment of acidity in the digestive system that causes a host of other health problems.

Atherosclerosis:  Pectin in this fruit has been found to be effective in reducing the accumulation of arterial deposits, and the vitamin C helps to strengthen and maintain the elasticity of arteries.

Breast cancer:  In another study, the bioflavonoids found in grapefruit was discovered to even halt cancer cells from spreading in breast cancer patients, by ridding the body of excess estrogen.

Common cold:  A common cold is usually your body telling you that you are overworked.  A regular drink of grapefruit during a stressful period gives your immune system the boost needed to prevent it coming on.

Cholesterol: A certain compound found in grapefruit helps reduce the excessive production of cholesterol from the liver.

Diabetes:  A diabetic can safely eat a grapefruit.  In fact, more consumption of this fruit will help reduce the starches and sweets in the system.  If you have a tendency towards diabetes, consume more grapefruit juice to prevent it.

Digestive disorder:  This juice helps to promote digestion by increasing the flow of gastric juices.  Eat the fruit together with its rind for its extra fiber that aids bowel movements.

Fatigue:  At the end of a long and tiring day, drink a glass of grapefruit juice with lemon juice in equal parts with a little honey, to dispel all fatigue and tiredness.

Fever:  Besides drinking plenty of fluids, also drink grapefruit juice to reduce fever.

Insomnia:  A drink of grapefruit juice before bedtime, helps to promote sleep and alleviates insomnia.

Pregnant woman:  The bioflavonoids and vitamin C help to reduce water retention and swelling of the legs during pregnancy.

Sore throat: Drinking a freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice helps relieve sore throats and soothes coughs.

Stomach and pancreatic cancer:  The anti-cancer agents in grapefruit (especially in the rinds) are particularly protective against these cancers in the digestive system. 

Weight-loss:  This fruit has a fat-burning enzyme and can help to absorb and reduce the starch and sugar in the body. It is widely consumed by people who are trying to lose weight. If you don't fall under the category of people mentioned below (look at "Caution" colum), then take a glass of grapefruit juice twice a day and eat normally.

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Consumption Tips

Choose grapefruits like how you would oranges¾firm and springy to the touch.  If you can, choose the pink and red variety which are slightly sweeter.

Keep grapefruits at room temperature before juicing to get the most out of it.  To prepare, quarter the fruit and peel off the skin.  Leave in as much rind as possible as it contains the most anti-cancer agents.

If you find the grapefruit juice too bitter or sour, mix with a little honey or with juices of other sweeter fruits.

Caution

Grapefruit contains high levels of flavonoid naringin that can interfere with the activity of an enzyme in the liver called CYP34A.  These enzymes are produced by the body to break down certain drugs, especially drugs for lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The presence of grapefruits may halt the metabolism of these drugs, leaving the drugs in your body thus creating the risk of toxic poisoning. So, if you are undergoing medication, check with your doctor first before you eat grapefruit or drink of its juice.

A recent study by the British Journal of Cancer has reported that post-menopausal women eating grapefruit everyday may raise the risk of breast cancer. It is believed that grapefruit boosts the level of estrogen in this group of women. If you don't fall into this group of people, grapefruit juice may yet do you much good.

If you are not under medication, and are not a post-menopausal woman, grapefruit juice can do a world of good. However, despite all its goodness, always remember to take only in moderation.  Excessive consumption of any citrus juices can leach calcium from the body system, causing decay of the bones and teeth.

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