Grapefruit is a large orange-like fruit that belongs to the citrus family. It derives from a natural cross-breeding between orange and pomelo, thus its size.
Depending on its variety, the diameter of a grapefruit can range between four and six inches. The fruit's skin looks like that of an orange, but its flesh comes in white, pink or red.
It is called a grapefruit simply because it grows in clusters, like grapes. The taste of a grapefruit can be bitter and sour but it has so many health benefits.
Benefits of Grapefruit
Grapefruit does not only contain vitamin C which are commonly known to be protective against cold or flu. It also have nutrient that helps prevent a certain disease, but rather the combination of several ingredients in it that does the trick. This juicy fruit contains citric acid, natural sugars, essential oils like limonene, pinene and citral. It also have smaller amounts of vitamin A, B complex, E and K.
In the mineral department, larger amounts of calcium, folic acid, phosphorus, and potassium are found. The nutritive of all these able to help fight cancer and various diseases.
Health Benefits
Common cold A common cold is usually your body telling you that you are overworked. A regular drink of grapefruit during a stressful period gives your immune system the boost needed to prevent it coming on.
Cholesterol A certain compound found in grapefruit helps reduce the excessive production of cholesterol from the liver.
Fatigue At the end of a long and tiring day, drink a glass of grapefruit juice with lemon juice in equal parts with a little honey, to dispel all fatigue and tiredness.
Fever Besides drinking plenty of fluids, also drink grapefruit juice to reduce fever.
Insomnia A drink of grapefruit juice before bedtime, helps to promote sleep and alleviates insomnia.
Sore throat Drinking a freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice helps relieve sore throats and soothes coughs.
Weight-loss This fruit has a fat-burning enzyme and can help to absorb and reduce the starch and sugar in the body. It is widely consumed by people who are trying to lose weight. Just take a glass of grapefruit juice twice a day and eat normally.
Consumption Tips
Choose grapefruits like how you would oranges, firm and springy to the touch. If you can, choose the pink and red variety which are slightly sweeter.
Keep grapefruits at room temperature before juicing to get the most out of it. To prepare, quarter the fruit and peel off the skin. Leave in as much rind as possible as it contains the most anti-cancer agents.
If you find the grapefruit juice too bitter or sour, mix with a little honey or with juices of other sweeter fruits.
However, despite all its goodness, always remember to take only in moderation. Excessive consumption of any citrus juices can leach calcium from the body system, causing decay of the bones and teeth.
August 31, 2009 9:53:00 PM