The benefits and harms of grapefruit for the body

Grapefruit is a citrus fruit that was first developed on the island of Barbados. It was obtained by crossing a pomelo and an orange. The benefits of grapefruit are undeniable, as it contains vitamins (A, B2, P, C), lycopene, minerals and trace elements.

Women actively use grapefruit to fight extra pounds. The edible part of the fruit is a source of fiber. Therefore, the use of grapefruit in food will improve the body as a whole.

Composition and calorie content

Other important connections:

• Phytosterols — 17 mg (31% of RDI)

• Purine — 8 mg (6,7% of RDI)

The bitterness that grapefruit leaves behind in the mouth is due to the flavonoid naringin, which is part of it. This component can be useful to the body, and can harm it.

How many calories are in 1 grapefruit?

The calorie content of 100 g of the pulp of this citrus fruit is 29-35 kcal. This discrepancy in kilocalories is due to the variety and degree of ripeness of the grapefruit.

• 34,6 kcal is found in red fruits.

• 34,3 kcal is found in pink grapefruits.

• 32,4 kcal per 100 g of yellow grapefruits.

The lowest calorie content in yellow fruits. However, it must be remembered that there is also less coarse dietary fiber, which contributes to weight loss, in such grapefruits.

And how much in general? The average calorie content of one small grapefruit is 104 kcal. To do this, you need to eat it whole.

15 benefits of grapefruit for the human body

Grapefruit can bring undoubted benefits to the human body.

It consists in the following points:

1 Benefits for the heart and blood vessels

The walls of blood vessels become stronger, their elasticity increases, the heart will work better. Grapefruit contains potassium, which helps control blood pressure levels. Moreover, most people with high blood pressure have little potassium in the body. Also, this microelement contributes to maintaining a normal heart rhythm. Antioxidants, which are part of citrus, help fight atherosclerosis. They do not allow micro-inflammation to develop in the vessels, maintaining their health.

2 Detoxification

Harmful substances and toxins are removed from the body, as the liver is cleansed.

3 Weight reduction

The fruit contains coarse dietary fiber and water. This allows you to consume less food and muffle the feeling of hunger. The body is rejuvenated, as grapefruit contains amino acids that enhance tissue regeneration. A person loses both subcutaneous and visceral fat.

4 Immunity increases

It is useful to eat grapefruit during the cold season. Stimulation of the immune system occurs due to the fact that grapefruit contains bioflavonoids. Most of them are in pink fruits.

5 Normalization of the digestive tract

If grapefruits are eaten regularly, then a person will be able to get rid of constipation, diarrhea and other disorders in the intestines.

6 Benefits for menopause

During the menopausal period, doctors recommend that women include this fruit in their diet, as it helps to reduce the intensity of hot flashes and stabilizes hormonal levels. Eating grapefruit during menstruation helps to get rid of pain in the abdomen and in the lumbar region.

7 Water

Grapefruit is 88% water. Therefore, eating it will help prevent dehydration.

8 The work of the brain and the level of blood pressure stabilizes

Grapefruits are indicated for use in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia, schizophrenia, etc. This is due to the fact that grapefruit stimulates the production of an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase. People with similar diseases need it especially acutely.

9 Tooth benefits

Eating grapefruit helps to make teeth and gums stronger and healthier, so it can be eaten to prevent dental diseases. If a person suffers from bleeding gums, then you need to drink grapefruit juice. It perfectly eliminates bad breath and destroys bacteria that cause caries. If the juice has just been prepared, then, among other things, it perfectly fights fungi and microbes.

10 Protection against cancer

Grapefruit can be eaten in order to prevent the development of cancerous tumors. This is possible due to the fact that the fruit has antioxidant properties.

11 Lowering cholesterol

The regular inclusion of grapefruit in the menu reduces the level of bad cholesterol and increases the acidity of gastric juice. Bad cholesterol is removed from the blood thanks to naringin. The same substance stimulates the work of the digestive system, removes toxins from the body.

12 Cellulite is getting smaller

Grapefruit contains bromelain, which breaks down the fatty deposits that form cellulite.

13 With depression

Grapefruit has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system, it fights stress, reduces the severity of depression.

14 Kidney stone protection

The likelihood of kidney stones formation becomes lower, as a person consuming grapefruit saturates his body with citric acid. It destroys oxalate stones that have already appeared in the organs. Citric acid additionally alkalizes urine. It also prevents the formation of kidney stones.

15 Controlling the spread of hepatitis C virus

Preliminary laboratory tests have shown that naringenin, a compound found in grapefruit and other citrus fruits, can curb the spread of the hepatitis C virus by up to 80%, which would allow healthy cells to recover and resist the spread of the hepatitis C virus.

So say researchers at Harvard Medical School. Scientists note that there is an “urgent need” for new treatments for hepatitis C, as existing treatments do not always work and have side effects.

How to choose and how to store grapefruit?

A good grapefruit has no damage, its integrity is not broken. The juicier the fruit, the greater its weight. The taste of grapefruit depends on how much beta-carotene it contains. The more it is, the sweeter it is. Red fruits are sweeter than white ones. However, you can buy green and brown grapefruits.

Aroma matters when choosing a fruit. If it is ripe and juicy, then it will smell saturated.

How to store? It is not recommended to store grapefruit for a long time. The riper it is, the shorter its shelf life. It is best to put the fruit on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, which is designed specifically for storing fruit. It should not be kept at home for more than 10 days. After that, grapefruits become dry, which negatively affects their taste.

Which grapefruit to choose: white or red?

The benefits of grapefruit depend on its variety. There are about 20 of them. An ordinary person should be guided by the color of the fruit pulp. It can be white (yellow) and red. White fruits are more bitter, but they have more fiber. Red fruits contain higher amounts of lycopene and antioxidants. These substances help fight cancerous tumors.

How is grapefruit eaten?

A ripe grapefruit has a thin skin, but it adheres very tightly to the fruit. Its slices are covered with a film that is very bitter. It contains many useful substances, but it is impossible to eat it. Therefore, many people do not understand how to eat the pulp of a grapefruit without squeezing the juice out of it.

In fact, there are 2 simple ways to peel the fruit. It’s not at all difficult to do this.

How to peel and cut a grapefruit?

Cleaning the fetus by hand takes a lot of time. The procedure is rather complicated. It is much easier to cut the fruit into slices and then free them from the peel.

• First, the citrus fruit is divided into 2 parts, and then each half into 2 more parts.

• The peel is also separated from the pulp with a sharp knife blade.

• The slices can be cut in half again. Thus, the bitter part of the peel will remain on the grapefruit even less.

This grapefruit is convenient to eat as an independent dish, as well as add to salads.

You can not cut the grapefruit at all, but eat it with the skin. The fruit must be divided into 2 parts, sprinkle them with sugar and eat the middle with a spoon. The peel with this method of peeling a grapefruit will act as a bowl.

What goes with grapefruit?

Grapefruit is widely used for cooking various dishes. And it is loved by chefs in different countries of the world. It looks great in salads, gives dishes a pleasant aroma and taste.

You can combine grapefruit with apples, oranges, lemons, tangerines, pineapples, peaches, plums, cranberries, currants, grapes, pears. An interesting combination is grapefruit and fermented milk drinks and foods, as well as nuts. It is added to cottage cheese, yogurt, cream and sour cream, curd cheese.

What can not be eaten with grapefruit?

Along with grapefruit, you should not eat vegetables that contain starch and a large amount of carbohydrates. This applies to beans, peas, bananas, potatoes, dates, beans, meat and fish. It was found that protein and starchy foods, when consumed simultaneously with grapefruit, can lead to discomfort in the digestive tract.

Nutrition experts recommend eating grapefruit in advance, about half an hour before meals.

Video: how to process an orange, grapefruit, lime and lemon. Culinary school SHEFMARKET: