Tart and tangy with an underlying
sweetness, grapefruit has a juiciness that rivals that of the ever popular
orange and sparkles with many of the same health promoting benefits.
Refreshing and delicious
grapefruit is rich in phytonutrients such as lycopene, vitamin A, and
beta-carotene. The fruit is well known as "fruit from the paradise"
for its unique health-promoting as well as disease preventing properties,
especially among the health-conscious, fitness enthusiasts.
Here are the health benefits of
grapefruit.
1. Grapefruit Helps in Losing Weight
Grapefruit is high in enzymes
that burn fats, has high water content and has less sodium. A combination of
these three characteristics make grapefruit a perfect food for increasing your
body's metabolism.
2. Prevents Arthritis and Works as an Antiseptic
Grapefruit contains salicylic
acid that helps break down the body's inorganic calcium, which builds up in the
cartilage of joints and may lead to arthritis.
The salicylic acid in grapefruit
also works as a powerful antiseptic. In addition, grapefruit seed extracts can
be added to water to make an antiseptic spray for treating bacterial and fungal
infections.
3. Grapefruit Helps in Cancer Prevention
Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment
that is responsible for the red color of grapefruit. It is a powerful agent
against tumors and cancers as it acts as a scavenger of cancer-causing free
radicals. Lycopene works best with vitamins A and C, which are also found in
grapefruit.
An antioxidant compound, called
naringenin, is also found in grapefruit. Naringenin helps repair damaged DNA in
prostate cancer cells. DNA repair contributes to cancer prevention as it
impedes the reproduction of cancer cells.
4. Grapefruit Helps Lower Cholesterol Levels
The antioxidants found in
grapefruit are effective in reducing cholesterol levels. However, if you are on
prescription drugs, do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. Grapefruit
has a negative reaction against many prescription drugs such as those used in
treating depression, allergies, high blood pressure, seizures, impotence, heart
palpitations and even HIV.
5. Grapefruit Treats Common Ailments
Eating grapefruit or drinking its
juice helps treat common cold and fever, dissolve gallstones, boost liver
function and enhance immunity against infections. As grapefruit contains a
dietary fiber called pectin, it thus promotes better digestion.
6. Limonoids Promote Optimal Health
Phytonutrients in grapefruit
called limonoids inhibit tumor formation by promoting the formation of
glutathione-S-transferase, a detoxifying enzyme. This enzyme sparks a reaction
in the liver that helps to make toxic compounds more water soluble for
excretion from the body. Pulp of citrus fruits like grapefruit contain
glucarates, compounds that may help prevent breast cancer.
7. Grapefruit Lowers Cholesterol
Both red and blond grapefruits
both positively influenced cholesterol levels, but red grapefruit was more than
twice as effective, especially in lowering triglycerides. In addition, both
grapefruits significantly improved blood levels of protective antioxidants. Red
grapefruit's better performance may be due to an as yet unknown antioxidant
compound or the synergistic effects of its phytonutrients, including lycopene.
8. Rich in the Nutritional Powerhouse Vitamin C
Grapefruit is an excellent source
of vitamin C, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system. Vitamin C-rich
foods like grapefruit may help reduce cold symptoms or severity of cold
symptoms. Vitamin C also prevents the free radical damage that triggers the
inflammatory cascade, and is therefore also associated with reduced severity of
inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid
arthritis. As free radicals can oxidize cholesterol and lead to plaques that
may rupture causing heart attacks or stroke, vitamin C is beneficial to
promoting cardiovascular health
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