A nutritious member of the
citrus family, grapefruits are large, tart and tangy fruits known
primarily for their vitamin C content. The fruit, often mistaken
for a pomelo, can be found with either white, pink, or red pulps
– all with different levels of sweetness while offering very similar benefits.
The best part? While grapefruits are normally in season from winter
through early spring, you can experience
the health benefits of grapefruit all year round. Here is what the fruit has
to offer.
GRAPEFRUIT
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
As you may already know, grapefruits are
well-known for their high vitamin C content, but the fruit certainly has more
to offer. In addition to being rich in vitamin C, grapefruits also rich in
Vitamin A, fiber, and potassium.
Here is a more complete (but not fully
complete) nutritional profile.
Vitamin A
Thiamin
Folate
Potassium
Fiber
Vitamin B6
Magnesium
Check out the USDA Nutrient Database for a full
nutritional profile of grapefruit.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF
GRAPEFRUIT
Seeing as grapefruits are rich in essential
vitamins and minerals, there is no doubt that the fruit can provide numerous
health benefits. Below you will learn about at least 10 grapefruit health
benefits that you can share with your friends and family.
1. Grapefruits for Weight Loss
Ever hear of the grapefruit
diet? Also known as the Hollywood
Diet, the grapefruit has been around for decades, and apparently holds some
merit. Studies found that including grapefruit or grapefruit juice into your daily diet does
indeed boost weight loss.
2. Boosting Heart Health, Reducing
Heart Disease Risk
Further adding to the health benefits of
grapefruit, some studies have also found that the fruit contains compounds
responsible for boosting heart health and reducing heart disease risk.
The addition of fresh red grapefruit to
generally accepted diets could be beneficial for hyperlipidemic, especially
hypertriglyceridemic, patients suffering from coronary atherosclerosis.”
3. Using Grapefruit to Repair DNA,
Protect Against Cancer
Some research, published in the Journal of Nutritional
Biochemistry, set out to establish after a research that exposing cell
cultures to the compound, the researchers found that naringenin helps DNA to
repair by inducing two DNA-mending enzymes during the replication stage.
The cancer-preventive effects of citrus fruits
demonstrated in epidemiological studies may be due in part to stimulation of
DNA repair by NR, which by stimulating BER processes may prevent mutagenic
changes in prostate cancer cells.”
In addition to naringenin protecting DNA,
vitamin C is essential for preventing free radical damage. The vitamin C
content and phytonutrients found in grapefruit help to prevent a number of
issues related to DNA damage and oxidative stress,
including: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and cancer
growth.
Finally, grapefruit juice has been shown to
protect against colon cancer when consumed 3 times daily at 6 ounces for each
serving. Grapefruit, along with isolated compounds found in grapefruit
(apigenin, hesperidin, limonin, naringin, naringenin, and nobiletin), ignite
the death of cancer cells and even increases production of healthy colon cells.
This may be one of the most intriguing health benefits of grapefruit.
OTHER GRAPEFRUIT HEALTH
BENEFITS
Liver Cleansing, Detoxifcation – Grapefruit contains numerous
liver-cleansing agents. Among them are vitamin C, various antioxidants, and
phytonutrients called limonoids that helps toxic compounds to excrete from the
liver by making them more water soluble. The fruit also contains a flavonoid
compound known as naringenin, as mentioned earlier, which causes the liver to
burn fat rather than store it.
Helps Treat Gum Disease – Consuming 2 grapefruits each day for two weeks results in significantly less
bleeding of the gums. Grapefruits were shown to drastically increase plasma
vitamin C levels and help manage periodontal disease.
Helping with Respiratory Issues, Asthma – In case you didn’t know, vitamin C has
been shown in numerous studies to lessen respiratory issues and prevent asthma.
One studyfound that consuming
vitamin C-rich fruit reduced wheezing symptoms in children while also aiding
asthma, chronic cough, shortness of breath, and even runny nose.
Boosting the Immune System, Preventing Colds – Along with containing high amounts of
vitamin A, potassium, folate, and thiamin, grapefruits contain one of the most
well known vitamins for boosting immunity and lessening the duration of colds or
sickness – vitamin C.
Preventing Kidney Stones – Women drinking 1/2-1 liter of grapefruit, apple, or orange juice daily reduced
their risk of developing kidney stones. The juices work to increase urinary pH
and hasten the rate at which citric acid is excreted, which reduces the risk of
calcium oxalate stones forming.
Promoting a Healthy Pregnancy – Rich in folate and vitamin C,
grapefruits can be great for promoting a healthy pregnancy. Vitamin C works to
promote proper bone growth, bone development tissue repair, and helps to
maintain cell strength in the womb. Folate, an extremely important B vitamin for pregnant mothers, helps
prevent birth defects like spina bifida and helps the baby to grow
sufficiently.
Did you have any idea the health benefits of
grapefruit could be so great?
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