Grapefruit – Benefits

Image courtesy of kai4107 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Grapefruit belongs to a group of highly nutritious fruits. It has specific bittersweet flavor and a low amount of calories. Scientists confirm the many benefits of this exquisite food and, at the same time, warn us not to consume grapefruit with certain medicines. Even though many people do not like grapefruit for its specific flavor, this food is abundant in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It can vary in color – from red and pink to pale and yellow. Experts give a slight priority to its red variety, because of lycopene, the nutrient that is highly effective in reducing the number of free radicals. According to them, lycopene can prevent cancer. Many types of research have proved the benefits of food containing lycopene, such as grapefruit, apricot, watermelon, tomatoes, etc., and found out that 82% of men who consumed it regularly decreased the risk of prostate cancer significantly. To find out more about the benefits of grapefruit, the article “Health Benefits of Grapefruit – Weight Loss, Cancer Prevention, and More” gives us the following list.

Weight loss

Promoting heart health

Preventing diabetes

Boosting the immune system, preventing a cold or sickness

Helps prevent arthritis

Helps cleanse the liver

Cancer prevention

Macular degeneration, preserving eye health

Reducing blood pressure

Skin health (acne, psoriasis, wrinkles)

Grapefruit is the first food after watermelon that contains a large amount of water. Namely, it has 91% water content. For a long hot summer, grapefruit is the perfect food for hydration not only because of water content but also for a considerable number of important electrolytes. Grapefruit represents a kind of food rich in potassium. Potassium influence our heart health, decreasing the risk of stroke and lowering blood pressure. It also perseveres our muscle mass and protect our bones. According to these many benefits, grapefruit is a real treasure. However, medical experts warn us to be careful when taking medicine. Namely, only a small glass of grapefruit juice can enormously increase the amount of medicine, and this effect can last up to three days. The risky medicines are those that lower blood pressure or LDL cholesterol, against HIV, arrhythmia, and antidepressants. Therefore, consulting a physician is always a good idea if we take some medicine and want to consume grapefruit as a part of our diet.