The benefits of grapefruit, which is an extremely healthy fruit, come from its rich nutritional content. Grapefruit, the first fruit that comes to mind when it comes to weight loss fruit, protects against heart disease, strengthens immunity, controls insulin levels and prevents kidney stones.
Grapefruit, a tropical citrus fruit, has a sour taste. It is rich in nutrients, antioxidants and fiber. Perhaps one of the healthiest citrus fruits.
What Is Grapefruit?
Grapefruit (Citrus X paradisi) is a fruit that is the result of hybridization of pomelo and orange. It was originally grown in Jamaica, Florida and California. Later, grapefruit plantations were established in Mexico, Argentina, Cyprus, Morocco and parts of South America. The peel of the grapefruit is an importantpectin is the source. It is used as a sugar to preserve other fruits.
Benefits of grapefruit
Grapefruit Nutritional Value
The benefits of grapefruit, which is an extremely healthy fruit, are due to its high nutritional content. However, grapefruit is low in calories. Actually,lowest calorie fruitsis one of the.
The fruit has a good amount of fiber along with more than 15 beneficial vitamins and minerals. a medium sizedThe nutritional value of half a grapefruit is as follows:
Calories: 52
Carbs: 13 grams
Protein: 1 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Vitamin C: 64% of the RDI
Vitamin A: 28% of the RDI
Potassium: 5% of the RDI
Thiamine: 4% of the RDI
Folate: 4% of the RDI
Magnesium: 3% of the RDI
Benefits of Grapefruit
Strengthens immunity
Eating grapefruit regularly strengthens the immune system.C vitaminhas antioxidant properties. Grapefruit, with its high vitamin C content, protects cells from harmful bacteria and viruses.
Grapefruit protects against inflammation and various infectious diseases.Vitamin A It is also beneficial for immunity. The fruit also acts as a protective barrier against infection, helping to preserve the integrity of the skin.
Prevents insulin resistance
Eating grapefruit regularly can lead to diabetes.insulin resistanceInsulin resistance occurs when cells do not respond to insulin. Insulin resistance causes blood sugar to rise and paves the way for diabetes. Eating grapefruit keeps insulin levels in check.
Protects from heart diseases
Grapefruit improves factors that cause heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. The nutrients contained in the fruit support the healthy functioning of the heart. One of them is potassium. Potassium keeps blood pressure under control. Due to its fiber and rich antioxidant content, it protects the heart as well as a disease such as stroke.
Grapefruit has different groups of antioxidants that reduce the risk of various diseases. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause harmful reactions in the body. The most important antioxidants in grapefruit are:
C vitamin: It is a powerful, water-soluble antioxidant found in high amounts in grapefruit. It protects cells from damage that leads to heart disease and cancer.
Beta-carotene: It is converted into vitamin A in the body. heart disease, cancer andmacular degeneration prevent some chronic diseases such as
Lycopene: It prevents the development of certain types of cancer, especially prostate cancer. It also slows the growth of tumors and reduces the side effects of cancer treatments.
Flavonoids: The flavonoids that give grapefruit its anti-inflammatory properties reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.
Prevents kidney stones
Eating grapefruit is caused by the accumulation of waste materials in the kidneys.kidney stone reduces the risk of developing.
These waste materials are normally products of metabolism that are filtered through the kidneys and excreted in the urine, and if they crystallize in the kidneys, they become stones.
Large kidney stones cause a blockage in the urinary system, making it incredibly painful.
The most common type of kidney stone is calcium oxalate stones. The citric acid found in grapefruit is effective in preventing them by binding with calcium in the kidneys and throwing them out of the body. Moreover,citric acid, It creates an unsuitable environment for the formation of kidney stones by increasing the volume and pH value of the urine.
Moisturizes the body
One of the benefits of grapefruit is that it contains a high amount of water. In fact, water makes up the weight of the fruit. Half of a medium grapefruit, which makes up about 88% of its total weight, contains almost 118 ml of water. The body does not meet its water needs only from the water we drink. Foods containing water, such as grapefruit, also moisturize the body by meeting the need for water.
Protects the liver
Grapefruit juice has a stimulating effect on liver enzymes. These enzymes protect the liver from inflammation caused by lipid peroxidation and accumulation.
Cancers fight
Grapefruit helps the body fight infections. It fights cancer-causing carcinogens with the help of abundant flovanoids it contains.
Grapefruit acts as a laxative, especially reducing the incidence of colon cancer. It significantly reduces the risk of developing colon cancer. Apart from this, it is a fruit rich in petkin, which protects the health of the mucous membrane.
Pink and red grapefruit are very effective on vision health and improve eyesight. A daily consumption of grapefruit relieves eye strain. In addition, it reduces the risk of eye problems that may occur due to aging.
Resolves arthritis problems
One of the benefits of grapefruit is that it relieves arthritis. Because it protects the joint cartilage that can lead to arthritis. It also contains calcium and salicylic acid, due to this feature, grapefruit reduces the risk of developing arthritis problems.
Beneficial for the respiratory system
Vitamin C, which is abundant in grapefruit, is especially beneficial for asthma. Asthma It reduces the severity of attacks and helps delay attacks. Apart from this, in general, the nutrients and substances contained in grapefruit support the health of the respiratory system. It eliminates cough and nasal congestion problems, especially in children.
Benefits of Grapefruit for Skin
Grapefruit and other citrus fruits protect the skin from the sun's harmful rays by preventing photosensitivity.
It delays the development of redness that may occur due to sunburn.
Since it contains phenolic acids, flavonoids and powerful polyphenols, free radicals gradually protect the skin from inflammation.
It gives flexibility to the skin.
Hair Benefits of Grapefruit
It promotes hair growth.
It strengthens the hair roots.
It prevents dandruff.
It cleans the dirt and oil deposits on the scalp.
Adds shine to hair.
Balances the pH level.
Moisturizes and softens the hair.
Does Grapefruit Lose Weight?
Half of a medium-sized grapefruit has 2 grams of fiber. Researches,lif It shows that fruits rich in nutrients provide a feeling of satiety. This is because fiber slows the emptying rate of the stomach and prolongs digestion time. Therefore, consuming foods with fiber controls the appetite. This way, you eat less and your calorie intake decreases. The high water content also proves that it is a food that helps to lose weight.
Harms of Grapefruit
The benefits of grapefruit show us that it is a very healthy food. But such a useful fruit also has some negative properties.
Interaction of grapefruit with drugs
Grapefruit is the fruit that causes the most reactions when consumed with drugs. This is because it contains substances that inhibit cytochrome P450, an enzyme the body uses to metabolize certain drugs. If you eat grapefruit while taking these medications, the body cannot break them down, which can cause an overdose and other adverse effects.
The ability of the fruit to affect the drug lasts 1-3 days. Eating grapefruit a few hours after taking the drug is not a long enough time. Drugs that are likely to interact with grapefruit include:
immunosuppressants
Benzodiazepines
Most calcium channel blockers
indinavir
Carbamazepine
some statins
If you are taking any of these medications, consult your doctor before eating grapefruit.
Tooth enamel erosion
In some cases, eating grapefruit can cause erosion of tooth enamel. The citric acid found in citrus fruits triggers enamel erosion, especially if consumed in excess. To avoid enamel erosion while eating grapefruit, consider the following:
Do not suck on grapefruit or other acidic fruits. Avoid direct contact with your teeth.
After eating the fruit, rinse your mouth with water and wait 30 minutes to brush your teeth.
Eat cheese with fruit. This helps neutralize acidity in the mouth and increases saliva production.
Vitamin C overdose
Eating too much grapefruit can lead to an overdose of vitamin C. An overdose of vitamin C can cause symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, belching, abdominal cramps and calcification in the kidneys. That doesn't mean you shouldn't eat grapefruit, of course. It means you have to watch how much you eat.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease People with heartburn may experience heartburn when consuming grapefruit because it is highly acidic.
How to Choose Grapefruit?
Choose those with smooth, shiny rind.
When you take the fruit in your hand, you should feel its weight.
Check the fruit for brown or soft spots.
You can store the grapefruit at room temperature (18°C – 25°C) for one week.
