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Health Benefits of Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a citrus fruit in which the pulp is found in three colors, white, pink or red. The taste ranges from acidic, bitter, sweet or tart. The grapefruit was also known as shaddock and the forbidden fruit. It was brought and introduced to Florida by Count Odette Philippe in 1823 and has since then been the top ten grapefruit producers in the world.

Grapefruit was made popular in the late 1970s because of emergence of the grapefruit diet or also known as the mayo clinic diet and Hollywood diet. This diet promises a quick weight loss in which the dieter stick on the grapefruit diet plan for 12 days and will expect to lose about 10 pounds.

Just like any other fruits and vegetables, grapefruit contains lots of nutrients. It is high in vitamin C, dietary fiber, potassium vitamin A. A cup of grapefruit contains about 39 calories.

The Benefits of Grapefruit

The benefits of eating grapefruit, drinking grapefruit juice or taking the grapefruit seed extract supplement is in helping with weight loss. This is because grapefruit has a low glycemic index. A glycemic index or GI is a measure of how much a certain food raises your blood sugar levels. Combined with the high amount of fiber and low calorie, it reduces the insulin level. So eating ½ of a grapefruit or a glass of fresh grapefruit juice before meal will make a person fill full and thus eat less and reduce her calorie intake.

Pink grapefruit is better in terms of nutrients. It is rich in beta carotene which is a naturally occurring antioxidant. Among the benefits are for growth and repair of body tissues and may reduce the risk of lung problems.

One of the other benefits of grapefruit is it contains a flavonoid called naringin. Naringin produces antioxidant activities. Naringin may lower blood lipid and has anti cancer activity.

Grapefruit seed extract which is the combination of the liquid from the seed, pulp and white membrane also offers great health benefits. It is said to have antibacterial, antiviral and anti fungal properties. A few of the reported benefits of grapefruit extract is in the treatment of candidiasis, earache, throat infection and diarrhea.

One of the natural organic compounds in grapefruit called mercaptan is being used in the perfumery industry to induce the citrus aroma as that found used in aromatherapy.

Grapefruit Side Effects

The naringin in grapefruit is beneficial but it also can cause harmful and dangerous side effects to people who are on certain medications. Taking grapefruit extract, drinking grapefruit juice or eating the fresh fruit while also on medication of certain drugs may increase the concentration of the drug in the blood stream causing an overdose. So it is highly advised that you consult your doctor before adding grapefruit to your diet.