Grapefruit is a fantastic fruit that supplies the body with plenty of Vitamin A, B1, B3, B5, B6 and C, Biotin, Copper, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc Bioflavonoids and more.  Because of the abundance of nutrients present, grapefruits have some incredible healing properties that you may not have been aware of.  Here are some of the many health benefits you may gain by eating grapefruit on a regular basis.

• Lowering Cholesterol¹: Grapefruit aids in the breakdown of fats in the body.  The pith, which is the white part on the inside of the skin, and the membranes surrounding the individual sections help lower cholesterol in the blood.  Grapefruit is an excellent source of dietary fiber and contains pectin which helps trap fats like cholesterol and allows them to be excreted.  Because of this, grapefruit has also been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
• Weight Loss ²: One whole grapefruit contains only about 100 calories, has about 4 grams of fiber, which is naturally filling, and it has compounds that naturally help reduce appetite.  It has a Glycemic Index rating of 35 (under 55 is good) so it doesn’t spike blood sugar levels.
• Detoxification: Grapefruit assists in cleansing the kidneys, digestive and urinary systems, helps detoxify the liver, eases chronic liver conditions and helps to eliminate toxins from the body.  It may also help dissolve gallstones
• Anti-Cancer: Red and pink grapefruit contain Lycopene which is a very powerful antioxidant and is especially important for reducing the risk of prostate cancer.  A 6 ounce glass of grapefruit juice daily has been shown to reduce the activity of an enzyme that activates cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke.  It may also be helpful in the treatment of esophageal cancer.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Grapefruit works as an anti-inflammatory and is therefore helpful with chest congestion, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other inflammatory disorders and may be helpful in the treatment of Osteoarthritis
• Anti- Fungal/Anti-Parasitic ³: Grapefruit Seed Extract is a very powerful antifungal and can be used to treat nail fungus by applying it directly to the finger and/or toe nail.  It can also be used to help rid the body of parasites, worms, and Candida Albicans.  (Follow package directions carefully)
• Immune Booster: Grapefruits help to strengthen the respiratory system and relieve cold and flu symptoms.

With all these amazing health benefits, you can see how grapefruits are a perfect example of how eating fresh, whole, live foods can strengthen the body and help create wellness.  If you are serious about wanting to improve your health, grapefruits are one of many live foods you should consider adding to your diet.  Enjoy grapefruit daily for better health.

CAUTION – Grapefruit may interact negatively or boost certain medications. Before adding grapefruit to your diet, make sure it is safe for you to eat.  Go to www.drugs.com

Sources:

¹ Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf058171g

² Mercola.com http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/02/11/grapefruit-obesity.aspx

³ Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapefruit_seed_extract

Balch, Phyllis, Prescription for Dietary Wellness, Penguin Group, New York, 1992

Mateljan, George, The World’s Healthiest Foods, GMF Publishing, Canada, 2007

Shealy, C. Norman, MD, PhD, Healing Remedies, Harper Collins, China, 2002