They’re tart, succulent and you better have a heap of sugar near by. Grapefruits, while hard to eat without slathering sugar on top, can do wonders for nutritional well being.
Who would’ve known that this heavy, Florida-grown fruit could have such an astounding effect preventing diseases and aiding in weight loss? Get ready to learn how grapefruits positively impact your health and how to eat this funky fruit to reap nutritional benefits.
Eating grapefruits has been proven to help aid weight loss. A study conducted by the Department of Nutrition and Metabolic Research at Scripps Clinic in Calif. concluded that the 91 obese participants who ate half of a fresh grapefruit before meals for 12 weeks experienced significant weight loss as a result (1). Why and How? It’s because grapefruits contain high levels of vitamin C, lycopene (a chemical compound found naturally in this fruit), and antioxidants.
Vitamin C junkies, get excited for something other than OJ. Eating one grapefruit covers about 78 percent of your daily recommended vitamin intake. “Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system. Vitamin C-rich foods like grapefruit may help reduce cold symptoms” (2).
The disease-fighting composition of grapefruits is miraculous. For example, grapefruit pulp may help prevent breast cancer, tumors and prostate cancer. According to a study, men who most ate lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes, apricots, pink grapefruit, watermelon, papaya, and guava were 82 percent less likely to have prostate cancer than men who consumed the least lycopene-rich fruits and vegetables (2).
Here are the four easiest ways to enjoy that good ol’ grapefruit while reaping the nutritional benefits:
1) Wedge by wedge: Cut the fruit in half. Next, cut around the diameter of the fruit separating the white membrane from the pink fruit. Slice in between each wedge. Grab a teaspoon, sprinkle sugar on top and dig in! For a twist, try brown sugar instead!
2) Like a lemon: Simply cut the grapefruit in wedges, or slice it and use it as a garnish. Add a wedge to spruce up a glass of water, add wedges to the rim of a fruity cocktail or leave a slice in a pitcher of lemonade.
3) Broil for breakfast: This popular breakfast spin-off involves spreading both halves of the pink fruit with honey and broiling until brown spots appear. Not a honey lover? Substitute a brown sugar and cinnamon topping instead (3).
4) Juice it: That’s right, skip the whole chewing concept altogether. A medium-size grapefruit contains two thirds of a cup worth of juice. First, roll the grapefruit on the counter to activate the juices. Cut the fruit in half and juice it like an orange for OJ (4). Also, substitute grapefruit juice for water and sugar in smoothies for a more tasty and nutritional treat (5).
Sources:
(1)U.S. National Library of Medicine - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16579728
(2) World’s Healthiest Foods- http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=25
(3)http://www.breakfast-and-brunch-recipes.com/grapefruit-recipe.html
(4) Farm Fresh- http://www.tonytantillo.com/fruits/grapefruit.html
(5) Citrus.com- http://www.citrus.com/easy-ways-to-eat-more-grapefruits/
Lauren is a journalist graduating in May from The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. She is passionate about health-related issues and has experience writing for state-wide publications.