GRAPEFRUIT: UNBLOCKS THE ARTERIES AND CLEANSES THE BLOOD
If one has never tasted a grapefruit, the first experience may somewhat disconcerting: less sweet than an orange, less acid than a lemon, and a little sour. At first, this original combination of flavors may seem strange, but one soon becomes accustomed to it.
The grapefruit is largest of the citrus fruit. It has also been the object of the most scientific research in recent years. As much for its medicinal properties, the grapefruit is surprising investigators, who continue focusing their attention on this fruit.
Grapefruit pulp contains a moderate contains a moderate amount of carbohydrates and very few proteins and lipids. Among its vitamins the most prominent is C (34.4mg/100g), although less than orange and lemon. As for mineral salts, its virtual lack of sodium is noteworthy, as is its rather elevated potassium content, in addition to a certain amount of calcium and magnesuim.
Since the nutritional content of the grapefruit is fairly low, most of its therapeutic properties are attributed to non-nutritive components of the fruit. These accompanying substances, which are found in all plant based foods and do not form part of any of the classic groups of nutrients (carbohydrate, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals), are precisely those that excite the most interest within the scientific community.
Although the grapefruit contains hundreds of non-nutritive components, as does the orange, the function of only a few is understood. Among these are pectin, flavonoids, carotenoids, and limonoids.
PECTIN: This is a type of soluble vegetable fiber found in many fruits such as citrus and apples. Vegetable fiber was the first non-nutritive food component to be studied because of its medicinal effects. Grapefruit pectin is found in the fiber forming its pulp and in the whitish layer just below the skin and between the sections. This fiber stands out for its arterial protection and its anti-cholesterol effects as demonstrated in numerous scientific experiments.
FLAVONOIDS: these are part of a group of non-nutritive components known as phytochemicals. Chemically they are glycosides, which are widespread in plant based foods and whose medicinal properties continue to amaze scientists. The predominant glucoside found in grapefruit is naringine (which is transformed to naringenine in the body).it improves blood flow, and has antioxidant and anticarcinogen properties.
CAROTENOIDS: (PINK GRAPEFRUIT) are a good source of beta-carotene, the pre-cursor to vitamin A. they also contain many other substances, called carotenoids, which act similarly and facilitate the antioxidant effect of vitamin C and flavonoids.
LIMONOIDS: these are terpenoids that constitute the essence of citrus fruits. Grapefruit is particularly rich in one of these, limonene, which gives the fruit its bitter taste, and a large portion of its proven anticarcinogenic properties.
Both the grapefruit’s nutrients and its non-nutritive components explain its medical applications:
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS: the grapefruit serves to protect arterial walls from the hardening and thickening association with the deposit of cholesterol and its consequent calcification, the process known as arteriosclerosis. In this way, the grapefruit increases the volume of blood reaching the tissues and proves arterial circulation. Pectin (soluble fiber) is the non-nutritive component that is principally associated with this effect.
The protective and healing effects of the grapefruit on arteriosclerosis are more pronounced if the whole fruit is eaten and not just its extracted pectin. This is probably because the flavonoid naringine contained in grapefruit has the proven effect of lowering the blood hematocrit when this is excessive (more than 55%).
EXCESS URIC ACID: in any of its forms; gout, uratic arthritis, kidney stones, etc. Although lemons are more effective in these cases, a grapefruit treatment also gives good results and is a good alternative for those who cannot tolerate lemons.
DEPURATIVE TREATMENT: whenever one wished to cleanse the blood thus promoting the body’s detoxifying functions, one may drink a glass of grapefruit juice on an empty stomach each morning. The best results are obtained by following this regime for a month, resting one or two days a week. The detoxifying effect of the grapefruit is explained, at least partially, because its limonoids activate liver enzymes which work to eliminate injurious substances from the body.
PROTECTION AGAINST CANCER: the grapefruit’s specific combination of vitamin C, pectin, and limonoids, help protect against cancer by impending the activity of many carcinogenic subsatance.
Regular consumption of grapefruit and other citrus fruits is a good way to prevent cancer and cardiocirculatory disorders.
Written by: OYEBAMIJI Emmanuel Aanuoluwapo
RDN, MNSN, MWPHNA
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