People either love or hate grapefruits. I prefer to drink pink grapefruit juice to eating it for breakfast. The one great thing about grapefruit is that it offers a lot of health benefits. The month of February counts as the National Grapefruit Month. The taste of grapefruit can be both sour and sweet with a bit of tartness. This fruit has lots of fiber and is very nutritious. Eating it or drinking its juice helps to reduce LDL cholesterol levels, triglycerides, affect gene activity in cancer cells and for all of you who are weight conscious, it can help with weight loss.
There are many different foods that go well with grapefruit such as avocado, cucumber, and spinach which you can combine and make delicious salads just mix in some grated ginger and sprinkle a bit of lemon juice. You can make your grapefruit taste much sweeter by drizzling on some honey or maple syrup. With all the different kinds of combinations, you can put grapefruit in a mixer and create great tasting smoothies.
There are several kinds of grapefruit available. They contain Vitamin A and C which gives your immune system a real boost. My favorite kind is the ruby red grapefruit which provides the most antioxidants. Then there is the bit acidic pink grapefruit which is a mix of ruby red and white and is the palest in color. There are only 53 calories in a grapefruit so it is a smart choice to eat whole or have it as juice.
If you’re looking to lose weight grapefruits are filled with fiber and by eating half a grapefruit for breakfast or before a meal as a snack you’ll feel full longer and you won’t be tempted to eat as much. Grapefruit can also be eaten as a side dish with meals like chicken. So instead of filling up with potatoes or pasta just have some grapefruit slices along with your grilled chicken. Having some grapefruit is so much better than filling up on salty snacks while watching TV or instead of reaching for a sugary soda pop have a glass of refreshing grapefruit juice instead. This will help you to reduce calorie intake and you’ll be able to shed some pounds.
Health Benefits of Grapefruit
For those who can enjoy grapefruit among the best benefits is that it can be eaten while you are on a diet since it is low in calories but high in nutrients. Grapefruit has over 15 beneficial vitamins and minerals. Its high Vitamin C content has antioxidant properties that are known to protect your cells from harmful bacteria and viruses. So by eating grapefruit you are less likely to get colds and come down with fevers. Another great thing is that if you have some grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice shortly before eating a meal you won’t overeat because the fruit contains fiber which will fill you up and you won’t feel as hungry and thereby will not eat that second portion.
Eating grapefruit regularly has the potential to prevent insulin resistance by controlling insulin levels. A study was done and showed that people who ate grapefruit three times a day for six weeks lowered their blood pressure and improved their cholesterol levels thereby making for a healthier heart. The fruit is high in potassium that is a mineral shown to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and thereby lowering the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants in grapefruit, like Vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene, and flavanones help to prevent the development of such chronic conditions as cancer and heart disease. By eating grapefruits you can also reduce the risk of kidney stones. Finally, this fruit is very hydrating since it contains a lot of water.
Make sure you check for known interactions with medications like anti-allergens and anti-depressants so ask your doctor if you can enjoy eating grapefruit.
Take a look at the great recipes that include grapefruit:
https://greatist.com › eat › grapefruit-recipes
I love grapefruit; especially ruby red grapefruit. Whenever I go on a diet, I drink grapefruit juice. The only I caution people about is drinking or eating this fruit when you are taking certain medications. Check with your doctor.