The combination of fiber, potassium , lycopene, vitamin C, and choline in grapefruit could all contribute to heart health. The AHA encourage people to increase their dietary intake of potassium and reduce the amount of salt they add to foods. This can help prevent high blood pressure and a range of complications that can result from it. The — Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults consume around 4, mg of potassium each day. The DASH diet , which health professionals designed to reduce blood pressure through dietary options, includes grapefruit as a recommended food.
Learn more about the DASH diet here. Grapefruit is a rich source of antioxidants , such as vitamin C. These can help combat the formation of free radicals, which experts believe give rise to cancer. A small grapefruit can provide The recommended adult intake of vitamin C is 75 mg per day for women and 90 mg for men.
A small grapefruit also contains 2, micrograms mcg of lycopene, which is another antioxidant. One population study looked at data for nearly 50, men. Its authors conclude that there is a link between a high consumption of tomato sauce, which contains lycopene, and a lower risk of prostate cancer. How does diet affect the risk of cancer? Learn more here. Grapefruit contains water and fiber. Specifically, a small grapefruit weighing g contains g of water and 2. Both water and fiber can help prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract.
There is also evidence to suggest that a high intake of dietary fiber can help prevent colorectal cancer. Why is dietary fiber important? Vitamin C plays a vital role in the formation of collagen , the main support system of the skin. The authors of a study conclude that vitamin C could help protect against sun damage and aging. However, some scientists have found evidence to suggest a link between a very high citrus intake and the development of malignant melanoma.
They looked at how much citrus juice people consumed each week over a period of 24—26 years, and they found a higher incidence of malignant melanoma among people who consumed more citrus juice. Why do we need vitamin C? Vitamin C helps support the immune system in a number of ways. For example, a dietary intake of vitamin C may help prevent and treat respiratory and other infections, according to an article from In particular, older adults, people with chronic conditions, and those who smoke should ensure that they have an adequate intake of vitamin C.
Grapefruit may be a good option. If you enjoy grapefruit or grapefruit juice and take such medications, there's no need to panic, Collins said. But talk with your pharmacist or health care provider to clarify what's safe. They might be able to switch your prescription to something unaffected by grapefruit, or even advise you to simply watch the timing of when you eat it.
In the past, grapefruit has been the very symbol of a "diet" food. Here's where its reputation drifts into the realm of fable. Studies have found grapefruit provides no special boost to weight loss. Even so, grapefruit's tartness encourages people not to gulp it in a rush but to slow down, letting them feel full with relatively few calories, "and that is exactly an approach that research does support as the kind of eating pattern that helps people reach and maintain a healthy weight," Collins said.
The classic way to enjoy grapefruit—splitting it and eating with a spoon—is OK, she said. Be sure to rinse it before you cut: Otherwise, the knife might push bacteria on the skin through the entire fruit. But if you peel it like an orange and eat it by the section, you get added benefits from the membranes.
It can keep for several weeks in the refrigerator, but it will taste better if you let it return to room temperature before serving. She recommends trying it in a salsa, with chopped bell peppers and cilantro. First, she suggests, try it plain. Although most Americans already consume too much sodium and sugar, a tiny sprinkle of salt on half a grapefruit or a bit of brown sugar on a slice you stick under the broiler is "a drop in the bucket" compared with other choices you could make, Collins said.
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The fiber in grapefruit may also help prevent colorectal cancer while fruits high in vitamin C and beta-carotene, which is in pink and red grapefruit, may lower the risk of esophageal cancer. Grapefruit can be stored in your fridge for as long as three weeks but they release their best flavor when kept at room temperature. If you plan to eat them within a week, leave them on a counter or table. If you don't think you will eat the grapefruit for 2 or 3 weeks, tuck them in the fridge but make sure they're at room temperature before you actually dig in.
This will give you maximum flavor. Grapefruit is also super in salads and with fish or chicken. In fact, it's best when paired with protein and a little fat, like a handful of walnuts. The fiber, too, keeps you feeling fuller longer. This first vitamin in the alphabet is good for your eyes, not to mention your heart, lungs, kidneys and other organs. If you find the fruit itself to be too tart, try a grapefruit-flavored beverage: There are a bevy of products—including grapefruit-flavored beer—that might be more palatable to you.
Because citrus pairs well with beer, there are plenty of orange and lemon flavored beers, but grapefruit is the a newer flavor in the brewing world: A few examples include Pink Fuzz , Grapefruit Shandy , and Turtle Power Grapefruit Pale Ale. Citrus scents are becoming more popular in aromatherapy for a reason.
Not all aromatherapy is inhaled. You can also rub an essential oil on your skin, which allows you to feel it and inhale it at the same time. Grapefruit aromatherapy may even act as a natural skin toner, says Chiasson. To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter. By Amanda Gardner Updated February 09, Save Pin More.
Start Slideshow. They're hydrating. Credit: Getty Images. Red grapefruit, in particular, surpassed its "blond" cousins in lowering triglycerides. Antioxidants in general may play a key role in preventing cancer. There's an added advantage to keeping them in plain view. Grapefruit is most often associated with breakfast, but don't let that limit your imagination.
They're good for your heart. Replay gallery. Pinterest Facebook.
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