8 REASONS GRAPEFRUITS ARE GOOD FOR YOU

Did you know grapefruits have lots of health benefits that are scientifically proven? Read on to find out.

1. ARE NUTRIENT-RICH BUT LOW-CALORIE

Grapefruits are a powerhouse for a lot of nutrients, mainly vitamins and minerals. Perhaps this is why grapefruits are not quite like other fruits. They are also one of the lowest-calorie fruits and contain a lot of fibre. You’d be surprised to know that half of a medium-sized grapefruit contains; 52 calories, 13 grams of carbs, 1 gram of protein and 2 grams of fibre. Eating this same quantity of grapefruit gives you; 64% of the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) for vitamin C, 28% for vitamin A, 5% for potassium, 4% for thiamine and folate and 3% for magnesium.

What’s more, grapefruits are very in rich plant compounds which are antioxidants.

2. CONTAIN A LOT OF WATER

Grapefruits contain a lot of water, and so eating them hydrates you. As a matter of fact, most of the fruit’s weight is made of water. The water content of half of a medium-sized grapefruit is 118ml, which accounts for about 88% of its weight. Given this, eating water-rich fruits like grapefruits helps supplement your daily water intake of eight (8) glasses.

3. HELP TO CONTROL YOUR APPETITE

The high amount of fibre in grapefruits (2 grams in half of a medium-sized fruit) puts a leash on your appetite. This is so because eating a diet that has fibre-rich fruits like grapefruits makes you feel full. That feeling of fullness is caused by your stomach emptying itself slowly, making digestion longer. When you feel full, you rarely have cravings for high-calorie foods like snacks. This is good for people who are trying to maintain their weight or shed some pounds, as it helps them to cut down on their calorie intake.

4. BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY

Eating a diet rich in grapefruits may support your immune function. Grapefruits are rich in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that protects your cells from bacteria, viruses and other causes of infection. Vitamin C has also been proved to speed up recovery from many ailments like the common cold. Additionally, grapefruits contain vitamin A which protects you from inflammation and infections. On the whole, most of the nutrients found in grapefruits help to boost your immunity. It is also worth noting that, vitamins protect the skin's outer layer which also acts as a protective barrier to infections.

5. STOP DIABETES

Ingesting as little as half of a grapefruit daily before meals has been proved to reduce a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes. The reason for this is that grapefruits contain an antioxidant plant compound called naringin. This plant compound prevents insulin resistance (a condition where your body stops responding to insulin). Two conditions that lead to type 2 diabetes (high insulin levels and high blood sugar) are caused by insulin resistance. Insulin is the hormone that controls blood sugar levels. When your body does not respond to insulin, the hormone cannot work effectively to reduce your blood sugar. Moreover, this will cause your insulin level to rise. 

6. PREVENT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Just as in the case of preventing diabetes, grapefruits keep your heart healthy by reducing the risk factors for heart disease. The two main risk factors here are high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. Grapefruits we know, are rich in plant compounds that are antioxidants. Two of these plant compounds, naringin and hesperidin, help to reduce blood pressure and blood cholesterol through their anti-inflammatory effect on the body.

7. ARE RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS

Grapefruits are high in antioxidants that can prevent chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Basically, antioxidants protect your cells from being damaged by free radicals. These are unstable molecules that cause harmful reactions in your body. Grapefruits contain antioxidants like vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene and flavanones.

Vitamin C prevents cell damage that usually causes heart disease and cancer. 

The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and certain eye disorders.

Lycopene can prevent certain cancers like prostate cancer. It also slows the growth of tumours and lessens the effects of cancer treatments like chemo.

Flavanones prevent heart disease because of their anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce high blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels.

8. PREVENT KIDNEY STONES

Kidney stones are caused by waste materials building up in the kidneys. These can be painful when they are large enough to cause a blockage in the urinary system. Grapefruits contain an organic acid called citric acid that can flush out these stones from the kidneys. Moreover, citric acid increases the quantity and pH of urine. These create an environment that makes it difficult for kidney stones to form.

February is National Grapefruit Month! As this tropical citrus fruit with a bittersweet taste gets a lot of hype, make it as much a part of your diet as possible. Whether you’re doing red, white, pink, yellow or deep red grapefruits, as long as you’re reaping all the health benefits this superfood has to offer, it doesn’t matter.

Disclaimer: The information shared by this post is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be professional medical advice nor a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician concerning anything you have read here. 

By Nana Ama Afoa Osae I Writer I GreatWonderful Team

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