A Grapefruit A Day

Forget apples, there’s another superfruit which may help keep the doctor away. Discovered in Barbados during the 18th century, the grapefruit has long been an exotic and sour addition to breakfast tables around the world. After a recent tweet about my breakfast of grapefruit sprinkled with sugar, a Norwegian friend of mine replied:

Entirely possible. Braver countrymen than mine apparently eat grapefruit straight. Whether you agree with them or with me about the method, there are lots of good reasons to eat a grapefruit a day.

Grapefruit curbs hunger. This is one reason it appears as a staple in so many fad diets, working behind the scenes to make it seem like four almonds and six cheese cubes will be enough of a lunch. “People who ate half of a grapefruit before each meal (without making any other dietary changes) shed an average of three and a half pounds over 12 weeks,” according to a study from the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California.

Grapefruit protects your heart. Enjoyed consistently, it can lower “bad” LDL cholesterol levels by 15.5% and triglycerides by 27%, according to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Deep red varieties have higher levels of antioxidants. While the hype surrounding the health benefits of antioxidants has probably been overblown, at least one major Women’s Health Study showed that increasing one’s intake of antioxidants could significantly reduce overall cardiovascular mortality.

Grapefruit supports your immune system. This juicy fruit contains many important minerals, like calcium, folic acid, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as vitamins A, B complex, E and K. But it’s most important as a source of Vitamin C. This vital nutrient can prepare your body to fend off sickness, reducing cold or flu symptoms. Because our bodies don’t produce or store Vitamin C naturally, we need to include it in our diet consistently.

Grapefruit is good for your skin. Vitamin C is also essential for natural production of healthy collagen. But again, only if consumed regularly. And if you’re not big on the sour taste, you can use grapefruit externally to benefit your skin, too. “Cut one in half, sprinkle on a teaspoon of sugar (a mild exfoliant), and rub over your skin. Skip your face, though—grapefruit can irritate a sensitive complexion.”

As I researched, I learned that grapefruit can also help with insomnia and soothing a sore throat. Unfortunately, I also found one negative to this superfruit:

Grapefruit does increase the potency of some prescription drugs. At least one website referenced a list of 85+ drugs that interact negatively with grapefruit. If you’re currently taking medications, check with your doctor before you change your breakfast routine. Otherwise, you could follow in the footsteps of Ashton Kutcher, who was recently hospitalized after attempting an all-fruit diet, mimicking the habits of Steve Jobs in order to accurately portray the Apple founder in the biopic “jOBS.” Oops!

Bon appetit!

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