When it comes to a triple serving of health benefits,
grapefruit packs a tri-power punch that’s hard to beat.
Researchers in Israel recently found that red and white
grapefruit contain powerful antioxidants that may help
reduce the risk of heart disease. Published in the February
2006 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry, scientists found that serving heart by-pass
patients the equivalent of one grapefruit a day
significantly reduced cholesterol levels. The study included
57 patients, both men and women, who recently had coronary
bypass surgery and failed to respond to cholesterol-lowering
medication. Red grapefruit was especially effective,
reducing cholesterol by 15 per cent and triglycerides (a
type of fat that increases the risk of heart disease) by 17
per cent.
Another recent study conducted by researchers at UCLA and
Zhongshan University in China discovered that Naringenin, a
beneficial plant compound in grapefruit, helped repair
damaged genetic material (DNA) in human prostate cancer
cells. DNA repair is an important factor in cancer
prevention since it stops cancer cells from multiplying. The
research was published in the February 2006 issue of the
Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Scientists noted that
DNA repair by Naringenin might contribute to the
cancer-fighting effects associated with a diet high in
fruits and vegetables.
An even more recent study published in the March 2006 issue
of the Journal of Medicinal Food supports the long-held
belief that grapefruit is useful in the battle of the bulge.
Dr. Ken Fujioka from Scripps Clinic in San Diego conducted a
12-week study of 100 obese men and women and found that
consuming one-half grapefruit before meals resulted in an
average weight loss of 3.6 pounds with some participants
losing up to 10 pounds. Individuals who ate the grapefruit
had significantly lower levels of insulin in their blood,
which the researchers speculate resulted in the weight loss.
The smaller the amount of insulin in the blood after a meal,
the more efficiently the body uses food for energy rather
than storing it as fat. The researchers further speculated
that a natural plant compound in grapefruit, not the fiber
content, was responsible for the weight loss since those who
consumed grapefruit juice also lost weight despite the lack
of fiber.
If you’d like to add a new tasty twist to your morning, try
sprinkling some
BeautiPhi,
ClariPhi,
ElectriPhi, or
FructiPhi
over your freshly halved grapefruit and enjoy!
Other Grapefruit links for
Information:
GrapeFruit
Uses and Serving Ideas
Nutritional Facts About
Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit Juice Drug Interaction
As always, we are at your service,
The Wholefood Farmacy Team
