All food contains all of the nutrients we need to be healthy, it is necessary to eat various foods in sufficient amounts. A good diet will include many different foods, and sufficient in quantity and quality to meet an individual’s need for food energy and other micro nutrients.

Pineapples

Plums Prunes

Pomegranates

Pork

Potatoes

GRAPEFRUITS

Typical serving size:

½ a grapefruit, or ¾ cup (6 oz or 177 mL) juice

HOW THEY HARM

Allergies

Canker sores Drug interaction

WHAT THEY HEAL

High cholesterol Cancer Weight gain Inflammation It’s easy to understand why flavorful and nutritious grapefruits are no longer just a breakfast food
Half a grapefruit provides more than 45 percent of the adult Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin C; it also has 175 mg potassium and 2 g fiber
The pink and red varieties are high in beta-carotene, which the body then converts to vitamin A
A cup of unsweetened grapefruit juice has 95 mg of vitamin C, more than 100 percent of the RDA, and most of the other nutrients found in the fresh fruit

WARNING

!

FOOD-DRUG INTERACTION

Grapefruit juice should not be consumed if you are taking certain medications
Compounds in the juice enhance the effects of the drug, possibly resulting in adverse effects
Drugs to watch out for include those for blood pressure, such as felodipine, anxiety, depression, and elevated lipids, among others
As a precaution, it is best to avoid taking any drug with grapefruit juice until you have asked your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to do so

Health Benefits

Protects against high cholesterol
Grapefruits are especially high in pectin, a soluble fiber that helps lower blood cholesterol
Reduces the risk of cancer
Grapefruit contains other substances that may prevent disease
Pink and red grapefruits, for example, are high in lycopene, an antioxidant that appears to lower the risk of prostate cancer
A 6-year Harvard study involving 48,000 doctors and other health professionals has linked 10 servings of lycopene-rich foods a week with a 50% reduction in prostate cancer
Other protective plant chemicals found in grapefruits include phenolic acid, which inhibits the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines; limonoids, terpenes, and monoterpenes, which induce the production of enzymes that help prevent cancer; and bioflavonoids, which inhibit the action of hormones that promote tumor growth
Helps weight loss
Grapefruits are a good food to include in a sensible weight-loss diet
A serving contains less than 100 calories, and its high-fiber content satisfies hunger
Eases pain associated with inflammatory disorders
Some people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory disorders find that eating grapefruit daily seems to alleviate their symptoms
This may occur because plant chemicals block prostaglandins, some of which can cause inflammation

Old School

Grapefruit will help you burn fat

New Wisdom

No food can help you burn fat, but grapefruit can be a part of a healthy weight loss plan

Health Risks

Allergic reaction
Those people who are allergic to other citrus fruits are likely to react to grapefruits
The sensitivity may be to the fruit itself or to an oil in the peel
Canker sores
If you’re prone to these painful mouth sores, steer clear of grapefruits and other citrus fruits

Allergies

Serve honey-coated red grapefruit sections with grilled salmon

Make a layered salad of thinly sliced grapefruit, red onion, and avocado

Cut into wedges and eat out-of-hand like an orange

Buying Tip

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Look for grapefruit that are firm and heavy for their size

The skin should be bright and colorful, without bruises or wrinkles

Storing Tips

Grapefruit can be stored at room temperature for several days
To keep them longer, store them in the crisper drawer in the refrigerator