Grapefruit: The Weight Loss Fruit

Grapefruit would never have been my first choice of fruits. I picked up a bag of them over the weekend, but grapefruitone thing I noticed is the more of them I eat, the more I enjoy them. I am on my fourth one right now as I write this.

The bitter flavor of grapefruit is caused by a flavonoid called naringin. Naringin acts as an antioxidant, anti-atherogenic (prevents the formation of tumors in artery walls) and anti-apoptotic (prevents apoptosis which is a type of cell death). This flavonoid protects against toxins in chemotherapy drugs, reduces negative effects of ethanol intake, enhances lipid metabolism, acts as a free radical scavenger, protects from carcinogenic matter, preserves plasma vitamin E levels, prevents hypercholesterolemia and reduces cytotoxicity. Naringin is also used in the treatment of gastric lesions.

Did you ever hear of the grapefruit diet?  It turns out it that grapefruit can aid in weight loss and is helpful in reducing insulin resistance. A 2006 study at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla was published in the Journal of Medicinal Food. They found that people with metabolic syndrome who consumed either half a grapefruit or 1 cup of grapefruit juice before their meals lost more weight, and also had lower blood glucose levels, than those who consumed a placebo.

Grapefruit is loaded with vitamin C. It also contains fiber, vitamin A, potassium, B5 and B1. The red and pink grapefruits contain lycopene which fights oxygen free radicals that can damage cells. Studies show that high intake of lycopene reduce incidences of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and macular degeneration.

Consuming grapefruit may interact with prescription drugs such as statins, estrogen, calcium channel blockers, high blood pressure, benzodiazepines, immunosuppressants, and other neurological and psychiatric medications. Chemicals in the grapefruit called furanocoumarins may interfere with the way your body metabolizes medicines in the liver or gut. It binds with the CYP3A4, an enzyme in the intestinal tract, and blocks the enzyme making it easier for medication to absorb into the bloodstream.

Wear grapefruit oil and appear younger to men. Believe it or not, Dr. Alan Hirsch, board certified neurologist, psychiatrist and director of the Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation in Chicago, reported that a study showed that women wearing the scent of pink grapefruit were perceived by men to be six years younger than their age. He tried all scents: cucumber, grapes, lavender, pumpkin pie, commercial perfumes and colognes but none of them worked except for the grapefruit. It only worked on the men though, women who participated in the study were not fooled by smells at all.

If we wait until we are perfect before we love ourselves, we will waste our whole lives. We are already perfect right here and right now. – Louise L Hay