|
The health benefits of grapefruits are wide-ranging
and nearly unmatched by any other fruit. A glass of chilled grapefruit
juice, especially in winter, helps seriously boost your levels of
vitamin C, which gives grapefruits a high place amongst various citrus
fruits. It’s packed with the benefits derived from various nutrients and
vitamins, including potassium and lycopene. Along with these, it also
contains calcium, sugar and phosphorous. In terms of its culinary value,
it is considered a wonderful appetizer, and is regularly included for
breakfast as a refreshing and energizing start to the day.
Grapefruits are high in fiber and low in calories, and they contain
bioflavonoids and other plant chemicals that protect against serious
diseases like cancer, heart disease, and the formation of tumors.
Grapefruits increase the body’s metabolic rate, lower insulin levels and
give you a feeling of fullness and normality. It assists the human body
in fighting various conditions like fatigue, fever, malaria, diabetes,
constipation, indigestion, urinary problems, excess acidity and many
more.
|
|
 |
|
There are plenty of major health benefits of grapefruits, which are also
known to be powerful drug/poison eliminators. It works as a natural
antiseptic for external wounds, and it functions as a liver tonic. It
contains a high water content, which helps in changing the complexion of
the skin and increasing the body’s metabolic rate. The pulp and fiber of
grapefruits supply healthy bulk to our food intake, which aids bowel
movements and reduces chances of colon cancer. It also helps to quench
thirst and thus, reduces the burning sensation that arises during fever.
The Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that the intake
of grapefruit reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Health Benefits of Grapefruits
Appetite Loss: Grapefruit works as an
excellent appetite suppressant as compared to many other substances and
foods. It is said that smell of the grapefruit reduces the feeling of
hunger, which is the reason why people often include grapefruit in their
weight loss programs. The high amounts of fiber contained in this fruit
can also satisfy hunger and help people avoid the temptation to overeat,
since it is a bulky food, and stimulates cholecystokinin to be released,
a hormone that regulates digestive juices and acts as a hunger
suppressant.
Influenza: Grapefruit is a valuable remedy
for influenza, since it helps to minimize acidity in the system. The
bitter properties arising from an essence called ‘naringin’ in
grapefruits tones up the system and the digestive process. Naringin is
also considered a flavonoid, which are powerful antioxidant sources in
the human diet. They also have antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial,
anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory qualities, making them one of the
most important lines of defense in the immune system, protecting against
influenza as well as many other serious conditions. |
|
|
|
Malaria: The juice, or the fruit itself,
contains valuable and natural ‘quinine’ which is advantageous for the
treatment of malaria. Quinine is an alkaloid with a long history of
treating malaria, as well as lupus, arthritis, and nocturnal leg cramps.
It is not an easy component to find in many foods, so grapefruits are a
beneficial and rare example. The quinine can be easily extracted from
the fruits by boiling a quarter of grapefruit and straining the pulp.
Fever: The pulp or the juice of grapefruit
helps patients recover quickly from fevers, and it reduces the burning
sensation that occurs when the body reaches a high temperature. It is
also known as a way to boost the immune system against colds and other
common illnesses. Grapefruit juice, when combined with water, can quench
thirst very quickly and can keep you hydrated longer. Most of these
benefits come from the high content of vitamin-C in grapefruits, which
acts as a general immune system defense system and can help the body
fight to break fevers.
Fatigue: Grapefruits are also beneficial in
the treatment of fatigue, so it can help you to dispel your general
tiredness caused from routine or boring work. Drinking equal amounts of
grapefruit juice and lemon juice can be a refreshing and delicious way
to quickly boost your energy levels. Nootkatone is a very rare and
important compound found within grapefruits, and is probably its most
valuable component in terms of extracting as an aromatic substance.
Nootkatone improves energy metabolism in the body through AMPK
activation. This results in higher endurance and energy, increased
weight loss, and a reduction in the the chances of developing diabetes. |
|
|
|
Indigestion: Grapefruit is useful for
solving the problem of indigestion. It is very light as compared to
other foods and thus, acts immediately on indigestion by easing the heat
and irritation caused in the stomach. It improves the flow of digestive
juices, which eases the movement of the bowels and keeps your excretory
system regulated. This is due to the presence of fiber and vegetative
pulp in grapefruits, that adds bulk to the bowels and regulates your
excretory schedule, and grapefruit extract is also often used in modern
medicine for these same reasons.
Insomnia: A simple glass of grapefruit
juice, if drunk before going to bed, can promote healthy sleep and
alleviate the irritating symptoms and repercussions of insomnia. This is
due to the presence of tryptophan in grapefruits, the chemical we often
associate with becoming sleepy after big meals. The levels of tryptophan
in grapefruit juice lets us nod off peacefully to sleep.
Diabetes: Diabetic patients can safely eat
grapefruit, because consuming grapefruit can reduce the level of starch
in the body. If a patient is diabetic, intake of grapefruit can help
them to regulate the flow of sugar in their body, effectively handling
the disease. recent studies have shown this beneficial relationship
between diabetes and grapefruits to be due to the flavonoid content of
grapefruits, along with a number of other healthy benefits from those
compounds.
Acidity: Fresh grapefruit juice creates an
alkaline reaction after digestion. The citric acid of the fruit is
contained in the human body and thus, increases the effect of the
alkalinity reaction after digestion. The juice extracted from the
grapefruit is beneficial in preventing acid formation and many other
diseases that arise due to the presence of excess acidity in the body.
Constipation: A glass full of freshly
squeezed grapefruit juice in the morning is a great remedy to control
constipation. The juice stimulates the colon and other parts of the body
relating to the digestive system. This is due to the stimulating effect
of fiber on the secretion and stimulation of gastric juices that ease
the constriction of the digestive tract and induce a bowel movement.
|
|
 |
|
Flatulence: 10 to 20 drops of grapefruit
juice, taken before all three meals of the day, can work as an
appropriate pro-biotic and digestive enzyme, and will relieve excess
flatulence and stomach discomfort. Further research needs to be done on
the exact mechanism behind this phenomenon, but again, people believe it
relates to flavonoid content in citrus fruits like grapefruits.
Urinary Disorders: Grapefruit juice is
quite rich in potassium and vitamin C, so it is one of the best
treatments for dangerously reduced urination that is often caused by
liver, kidney or heart problems. Furthermore, its high potassium content
works as a vasodilator, meaning that blood vessels and arteries relax,
reducing blood pressure and lessening the risk of heart attacks and
strokes. Also, increased levels of potassium have been associated with
higher cognitive function because of increased blood and oxygen flow to
the brain!
Consumption of Grapefruit is Better than Many
Other Medicines
Grapefruits are natural sources of medicine that help the body fight off
various diseases. This fruit is readily available in any season. It is
completely natural and much better than consuming artificial
pharmaceuticals to relieve some of your most basic health conditions. It
enables the human body to regulate your cholesterol, which means that it
minimizes the risk of various cardiovascular diseases caused by
cholesterol issues. The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows
that consumption of grapefruit can reduce LDL cholesterol (bad
cholesterol), as well as hazardous triglycerides.
A Few Words of Warning: Despite all of these health benefits, and the
fact that sometimes grapefruits can be superior to other medicines in
their efficacy, you must be very careful taking medicine and consuming
grapefruit juice at the same time. Certain chemicals in grapefruits,
like naringin, and other less common compounds can negatively interact
with various drugs and cause damage to your organ systems. Be sure to
consult your doctor in terms of drug interactions with grapefruit juice
in your diet before beginning any new treatments! You want to improve
your health, but sometimes doing it in too many different ways can hurt
you!
|