Benefits Of Grapefruit
What Are The Benefits of Grapefruit?
Everyone knows grapefruit contains vitamin C, commonly known to be preventative/ protective against the cold, fever and/or flu (its bitter properties), but this juicy fruit is packed with so much more. It also contains citric acid, essential oils such as citral, limonene, and pinene and natural sugars. Aside from the high amounts of vitamin C other benefits of grapefruit are the smaller amounts of vitamin A, E, K and B complex it contains. As for its mineral content, it has ample amounts of calcium, folic acid, potassium and phosphorus, with much smaller amounts of iron, niacin and riboflavin.
Half a grapefruit provides six grams of fiber-from its pectin, equaling about a quarter of the daily recommended amount. About half of this fiber is insoluble (helps prevent constipation and reduces the risk of colon cancer). The other half is soluble (which helps lower the bad-LDL cholesterol). It is also the pectin that has been found to be effective in reducing the accumulation of arterial deposits in such diseases as atherosclerosis, while the high vitamin C content helps strengthen and maintain artery elasticity. Fiber has tremendous health benefits-the very least regulating the bowels. To get this fiber you must eat the wall linings that separate the segments which means peeling and eating it like an orange.
The benefits of grapefruit (fresh) are helpful to the body in a number of other ways as well. Because it contains salicylic acid it can help by dissolving any inorganic calcium that may be forming (without our knowledge) in various joint cartilage (due to excessive consumption of devitalized white flour products) appearing as what we call arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, as well as other inflammatory disorders).
For these reasons the benefits of grapefruit also include it as a good liver tonic acting as a cleanser and a natural drug poison neutralizer; helps in preventing as well as dissolving gallstones. Because pink and red grapefruits are rich in the antioxidant lycopene (which gives it its red pigment) it can help prevent such things as cancer (bioflavonoids halt cancer cells from spreading in breast cancer, by ridding body of excess estrogen) or tumors, and lowers the risk of prostate cancer in men. The bioflavonoid/vitamin C combo is also helpful in preventing water retention and swelling during pregnancy.
In the department of weight loss, the benefits of grapefruit shine once again. Because it is a high water content fruit-low in sodium and high in fat burning enzymes, it not only increases metabolism but will help flush the body of excess water. Grapefruits make goods appetizers as they promote salivary and gastric digestion of food. It reduces excess starches and sweets in the system making it good for diabetics as well as dieters.
Though having an acid taste, the citric acid of the fresh juice causes an alkaline reaction in the system that increases the body’s alkalinity. Fresh juice is useful for treating several diseases caused by an over abundance of acid in the body. Many swear by two glasses of grapefruit juice a day with little other change to the diet.
For fatigue at the end of a long day a glass of grapefruit juice with an equal amount of lemon juice (and a little honey) is known to rid the mind of any such thought. A small glass of grapefruit juice before bed helps promote sleep.
The benefits of grapefruit include the improvement of the complexion (by encouraging collagen production), an aid to the health of the gums, helps relive a sore throat or sooth a cough, and it is a natural antiseptic for wounds when used externally.