Monday, January 23, 2012

Health Benefits of Grapefruit

I know most of us parents want to feed our kids the best diet possible.  It can be so hard to find food that’s healthy and that they’ll willingly eat.  Grapefruit is a great choice because it’s nutritious and kids typically love it.  Not only are they good for kids but adults too!  Here are some benefits of grapefruit:



·         Helps with weight loss. Grapefruit is low in calories with only 42 calories per serving. You can eat plenty of this fruit without worrying about weight gain! Not only that but Researchers also confirmed that grapefruit may help prevent weight gain by lowering insulin levels.

·         Prevents cancer and lowers cholesterol. It is rich in pectin which is a dietary fiber. Pectin protects the colon by acting as a laxative which lowers the amount of time toxic substances are in the colon. It also binds to cancer causing substances on the colon. Pectin had also been shown to reduce cholesterol levels.

·         Prevents kidney stones. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that when women drank 1/2 to 1 liter of grapefruit, apple or orange juice daily, their urinary pH value and citric acid excretion increased, significantly dropping their risk of forming calcium oxalate stones.

·         Grapefruit is good for vision, skin, and prevents lung and oral cavity cancer. Vitamin A works with antioxidants such as naringenin, beta-carotene, xanthin and lutein are essential for vision. Vitamin A and flavonoids helps to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers. New research presented at the 228th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society showed that drinking three 6-ounce glasses of grapefruit juice a day was shown to reduce the activity of an enzyme that activates cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke. In rats whose colons were injected with carcinogens, grapefruit and its isolated active compounds (apigenin, hesperidin, limonin, naringin, naringenin, nobiletin) not only increased the suicide (apoptosis) of cancer cells, but also the production of normal colon cells.

·         Prevents arthritis and works as an antiseptic. Grapefruit contains salicylic acid that helps break down the body’s inorganic calcium, which builds up in the cartilage of joints and may lead to arthritis. If you have arthritis, try drinking grapefruit juice with apple cider vinegar. You will notice a reduction in your arthritis symptoms. The salicylic acid in grapefruit also works as a powerful antiseptic. In addition, grapefruit seed extracts can be added to water to make an antiseptic spray for treating bacterial and fungal infections.

·         Helps your body heal wounds and prevents colds. It is a good source of antioxidant vitamin C. Vitamin-C is a strong natural anti-oxidant and helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful free radicals. It also assists the intestine in absorbing dietary iron. Vitamin C-rich foods like grapefruit may help reduce cold symptoms or severity of cold symptoms; over 20 scientific studies have suggested that vitamin C is a cold-fighter.

·         Affects heart rate and blood pressure. Fresh fruit is very rich in potassium. Potassium is an important part of cell and body fluids. It counters the effects of sodium which helps control heart rate and blood pressure.

·         Protects skin and prevents prostate cancer. Red varieties of grapefruits are especially rich in lycopene. Studies have shown that lycopene protects skin damage from UV rays and offers protection against prostate cancer.

·         Contains many vitamins and minerals. It contains moderate levels of B-complex group of vitamins such as folates, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and thiamin in addition to some resourceful minerals such as iron, calcium, copper, and phosphorus.

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2 Comments:

At January 23, 2012 at 12:44 PM , Blogger Christina said...

And it is so yummy too!! I love grapefruit.

 
At January 31, 2012 at 5:01 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is one of those rare "good for ya" foods that I truly enjoy eating. Thanks for some new info :)

LesGalloway—at—Hotmail .d.o.t. com
FACEBOOK Profile: facebook.com/GallowayLeslie

 

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