February is National Grapefruit month! Let’s dive into all the reasons why you should give this fruit a try.
Grapefruit is part of the citrus family, but it also grows in clusters on trees, like grapes, which is said to be where the name originates. Grapefruits come in a variety of colors including yellow, pink and red, and they have a variety of flavors, from sweet to sour. Not only is Grapefruit refreshing and delicious to eat, but this citrus is a nutritionally dense fruit with relatively few calories, so it has a lot of health benefits, too!
Rich in Antioxidants
Like many citrus fruits, grapefruit is loaded with vitamin C, a nutrient shown to help boost your body’s immune system. But Grapefruit is also loaded with Vitamin A, another vitamin that has been proven to help immune function. This powerful combination could help keep the amount of time you spend sick to a minimum. Grapefruit is also a useful source of lycopene, which is associated with a reduced risk of cancer.
Heart Health
In 2012, the American Heart Association published a report that suggested that a diet high in certain flavonoids, compounds found in citrus fruits including grapefruit, may lower a woman’s risk of stroke. However, more research is needed to understand exactly why this is.
Grapefruit is rich in potassium and fiber, as well as protective antioxidants which may help manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Human studies have demonstrated the beneficial role grapefruit, and specifically red grapefruit, may play in helping to improve cholesterol levels, particularly in those suffering with atherosclerosis.
Helps with Weight Management
According to Web MD, obesity is an epidemic in the United States, and a common medical problem that can lead to more issues, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Overeating is one contributing factor to obesity. Fiber-packed (if you eat it, as opposed to just drinking the juice) and low-calorie grapefruit can help with weight management by slowing the rate that your body digests food, making you feel fuller and reducing the desire to overeat.
Blood Sugar Management
Animal studies have examined the beneficial role grapefruit juice may play in reducing blood glucose levels and improving insulin resistance. This is further supported by a higher fruit and green vegetable intake being associated with a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
Reduces the Risk of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can be extremely painful to pass. There are many causes of kidney stones, including weight, diet, and certain medications. Eating grapefruit may help prevent kidney stones formed by calcium buildup. The citric acid in grapefruit can bind with excess calcium to help flush it from your system.
Better Brain Function
There is some promising research into the role of flavonoids in the diet and improvements in memory and cognition, as well as the prevention of neurodegenerative conditions. However, it is too early to say whether grapefruit, in particular, has a significant impact on brain health.
Grapefruit and Prescription Medications
There is one caveat to eating grapefruit. The UK’s NHS advises that fresh grapefruit or grapefruit juice should not be consumed with certain medications, as it has been shown to reduce their breakdown and elimination, which can result in increased blood levels of the drug. These include, but are not limited to, statins, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants, certain cancer medications and Entocort, which is used to treat Crohn’s disease. So, always check with your doctor if you’re taking a prescription medication before consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
Read more from the NHS about how grapefruit can affect medicine.
Nutrients per Serving
Half of a medium grapefruit contains:
- Calories: 39
- Fat: 0 grams
- Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
- Sodium: 0 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 8.41 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Sugar: 7.31 grams
- Protein: .69 gram
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