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Sunday 5 January 2020

The Health Benefits of Grapefruit


"What is grapefruit? 
Grapefruit is part of the citrus family and grows in clusters on the tree, like grapes – this is said to be where the name originates. Grapefruits come in a variety of colours including yellow, pink and red, and they have a variety of tastes from sweet to sour.

Nutritional benefits of grapefruit 
While low in calories, grapefruit contains a whole host of nutrients. In particular, they're a good source of vitamin A, which is important for supporting the immune system and keeping the eyes and skin healthy, folate, which is key for a baby's development during pregnancy, and vitamin C, helping to maintain healthy skin. Grapefruit also contains some magnesium, potassium and calcium.

How much grapefruit counts towards my five-a-day? 
Half a fresh grapefruit, or 80g of tinned grapefruit, counts as one five-a-day portion and 150ml of unsweetened grapefruit juice also counts, but only once each day due to the high sugar content. If you're looking to reduce your sugar intake, avoid adding sugar to fresh grapefruit and check the label on tinned varieties to find an unsweetened option. 

Can grapefruit help with weight loss and insulin resistance? 
Eating grapefruits can’t deliver the dramatic weight loss touted in some fad diets, however, there is some evidence that shows consuming grapefruit may help with weight loss. A 12-week Japanese study looked at the effects of grapefruit versus a placebo, and there was a significant reduction in weight as well as blood glucose levels, in participants who consumed half a grapefruit before meals. Further research has also looked at the beneficial role grapefruit juice may play in reducing blood glucose levels and improving insulin resistance, although this was conducted in animal studies.

Can grapefruit reduce the risk of a stroke? 
In 2012, the American Heart Association published a report that suggested that a diet high in certain flavonoids, compounds found in citrus fruits including grapefruit, may lower a woman’s risk of stroke. However, more research is necessary to understand exactly why this association occurs.

Can grapefruit promote better brain function? 
There is some promising research into the role of flavonoids in the diet and improvements in memory and cognition as well as the prevention of neurodegenerative conditions, although it is too early to say whether grapefruit in particular has a significant impact on brain health.

Can grapefruit support healthy cholesterol levels? 
There have been some positive human studies into the beneficial role grapefruit, and specifically red grapefruit, can play in helping to improve cholesterol blood levels, particularly in those suffering with atherosclerosis – a build-up of fatty material inside the arteries.

Can grapefruit affect prescription medications? 
The NHS advises that fresh grapefruit or grapefruit juice should not be consumed with certain medications as it has been shown to reduce their breakdown and elimination, which can result in increased blood levels of the drug. These include, but are not limited to, statins, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants, certain cancer medications and Entocort, which is used to treat Crohn’s disease. Always check with your GP first if you're taking a prescription medication before consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice. 
Read more from the NHS about how grapefruit can affect medicine

Some grapefruit recipes


Prawn, Pomegranate and Grapefruit Salad
10g carbs per serving
details here


Turkey steaks with citrus and ginger sauce
25g carbs per serving
details here


Lettuce rolls
13g carbs per serving
details here

The above is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other healthcare professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local healthcare provider." 
Words and pictures above taken from a BBC Good Food article, which may be seen in full and with all relevant information/research links here

Dear reader, a variety of articles, and recipe ideas, are within this blog, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

34 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

And they taste delicious.

Tom said...

...I wishes that I could eat them.

Chatty Crone said...

They look so beautiful - but I just really don't like them. ☺

Rain said...

Oh I love grapefruit! My grandpa used to have half a grapefruit every morning for breakfast. I love the pairing with the prawns!

peppylady (Dora) said...

It seem like lot of meds don't work well with grapefruit

Christine said...

I love grapefruit but it may conflict with my blood pressure meds so I avoid.

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Thank you for a very informative article.

God bless.

Susan Kane said...

I love grapefruit, but I can't eat it (meds). We had a 40+ yr old tree, always loaded with them. I told my neighbors to take as many as they wanted.

JFM said...

I have never been a fan of grapefruit but this is another great post!!!
Thank you Jan 💮

Dewena said...

That's some advice I love to take! And this time of year we can get the nice Texas red grapefruit. I saved a recipe for prawn and grapefruit salad recently similar to this one. It was in one of my UK magazines and sounds delicious!

Lorrie said...

Such delicious fruit!

Lee said...

Every grapefruit season my neighbours from up the end of this lane regularly give me bags of the fruit from their trees. I love the fruit.

DUTA said...

I prefer the pomelo. It also belongs to the family of the grapefruit, but is more digestive friendly, and it's sweet. It has almost the same health benefits as the grapefruit.

Valerie-Jael said...

I love grapefruits! Valerie

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...


Grapefruit is really good and good for you, but I've been reading that the juice should be avoided if there is sugar added.

I cited you today, as I made the Brussels sprouts tree you shared at Christmas. It truly WAS a show stopper.

Jo said...

I love grapefruit, I often start the day off with half a grapefruit.

Mrs.B said...

A Belated Happy New Year Jan,
Thank you for all your visits (I know I'm the worst blogger!) and continued support, I do appreciate it. All My Best Wishes for 2020.
Hugs, Avril xx

CJ Kennedy said...

I like grapefruit.

Divers and Sundry said...

I had forgotten about grapefruit until I bought a few for a drink recipe and remembered how much I like them. I used to put sugar on them when I was a child, but I don't do that any more. I like a half-and-half glass of pineapple and grapefruit juice, but I can't find grapefruit juice except in containers too large for me to drink before it goes bad.

mamasmercantile said...

I am a great fan of grapefruit and love the wide variety of recipes but sadly due to the heart medication I am on I am not allowed to eat grapefruit anymore.

sandy said...

looks healthy and good for sure.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

All the citrus fruits are in season here in Florida right now so I treated myself to a few sections of a fresh orange today! Nothing else sweeter!

Teresa said...

Prefiero las naranjas, me gustan más. Besitos.

happyone said...

Not a big fan of grapefruit but is sure looks pretty in the picture.

Miss Val's Creations said...

Grapefruit has so many benefits. It is one of the few fruits that my taste buds really dislike. Maybe someday they will change and I can enjoy them.

italiafinlandia said...

Not my fav, but so helpful for health...

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
I take one medicine and it says not to combine with grapefruit. I do love it, the pink gapefruits were my favorite. Enjoy your day!

Martha said...

I LOVE grapefruit. One of my favourite fruits.

Conniecrafter said...

My mother ate grapefruit a lot when I was growing up, she had many mini strokes in her brain, but maybe you have to eat them your whole life, I don't remember her eating them later in her life as much. I do prefer oranges a lot more :)

Jeanie said...

I love grapefruit, especially pink grapefruit. I figured it probably had very positive benefits but I didn't know about all of these. Thanks, Jan!

Debbie said...

grapefruit, not my thing!!!

pam nash said...

We get Ruby Reds here - very good with just a hint of sweet along with the tart.

William Kendall said...

I've never been fond of grapefruit.

Healthytips said...

Thanks for sharing such beautiful information with us. I hope you will share some more information about grapes fruit. Please keep sharing.
Benefits Of Grape Juice