Did you know that grapefruit is a superfood? According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, half a grapefruit contains 64 percent of your daily needs for vitamin C, 28 percent of your daily needs for vitamin A, 2 percent of your daily calcium needs and 2 percent of your daily magnesium needs. Grapefruit also contains potassium, manganese, zinc, pantothenic acid, phosphorous, copper and is full of lycopene, beta-carotene and other antioxidants.
Numerous studies have found that grapefruit is highly effective at fighting a variety of common health conditions. Find a list of nine reasons to eat more grapefruit below:
Grapefruit helps you lose weight
Grapefruit is able to give your current weight loss efforts a boost. A 2006 study published in theJournal of Medicinal Food found that adding grapefruit to the diet was able to increase weight loss efforts when compared against other supplements and a placebo pill. The grapefruit juice group lost about three pounds more than the placebo group during the 12-week trial.
Grapefruit lowers blood pressure
Antioxidants are not only beneficial for fighting cancer, but they also benefit heart health. The combination of nutrients in grapefruit makes it particularly beneficial. A study from 2006 published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that individuals who eat grapefruit regularly are more likely to have healthy cholesterol levels, which is a contributing factor to blood pressure. It is the potassium content in grapefruit that is associated with its ability to reduce blood pressure.
Grapefruit fights cancer
Grapefruit is high in antioxidants, making it beneficial in the fight against cancer. Lycopene is well known for its cancer-fighting effects and beta-carotene is known to reduce the instances of throat cancer.
Grapefruit reduces stroke risk
The American Heart Association states that eating oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits is proven to reduce stroke risk in women. In 2012, a study published in the journal Stroke found that women who ate the highest amount of grapefruit and citrus fruits had a 19 percent reduced chance of developing a stroke.
Grapefruit is hydrating
Grapefruit has a high water content, but it is the balance of electrolytes that makes eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice particularly hydrating. Grapefruit is 91 percent water and makes a great post-workout snack.
Grapefruit helps digestion
Grapefruit is both high in water and in fiber, which are both essential for healthy digestion and regularity to prevent constipation.
Grapefruit boosts the immune system
The high vitamin A and vitamin C content in grapefruit makes it effective at boosting your immune health. One single grapefruit contains more than enough vitamin C to get you through the day at optimal levels, as well as half of your required vitamin A.
Grapefruit promotes glowing skin
We all want better skin, and the antioxidants in grapefruit deliver just that. Grapefruit fights skin damage, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and helps the skin feel soft and smooth.
Research shows that individuals who are low in vitamin C are more likely to develop asthma symptoms or experience worse asthma attacks. Eating a grapefruit a day can help reduce the risk of serious asthma attacks.
Easy ways to eat more grapefruit
Most of us eat grapefruit in the traditional way, by cutting it in half and eating it with a spoon, but that gets boring fast. Try these creative ways to add more grapefruit to your diet:
- Cut the flesh into small pieces and add it to salads.
- Use grapefruit juice as a marinade for meats.
- Blend the flesh of a grapefruit into a morning smoothie.
- Freeze bite-sized pieces of grapefruit and add them to water in place of ice cubes.
- Make a beet and grapefruit smoothie.
Enjoy the delicious taste and delightful health benefits of grapefruit!
—Brenda Priddy
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