Both the bright white and red grapefruits are part of the citrus family and are a fruit similar in size to an orange. This results from a natural cross between orange and grapefruit, hence the connection in terms of its size. The grapefruit name comes from the fact that it is grown in bunches, just like grapes. Grapefruit grows in hot climates. The taste of this fruit can be bitter or sour, but it is extremely beneficial for the body, so it is necessary to integrate it into our daily diet.
The benefits of white and red grapefruit
Strengthens the immune system – grapefruit is rich in vitamin C, which means it is very helpful against flu and cold;
Contributes to losing extra pounds – a survey of a sample of 91 obese people shows that those who consumed half of grapefruit fruit before meal lost significantly more weight compared to those who did not include this fruit in their diet. This is because grapefruit has a high water content, thus helping those who want to lose weight.
Improves heart health – consumed regularly, grapefruit is beneficial to heart health by reducing the risk factors that contribute to the development of health problems: high blood pressure, high cholesterol. A study found that those who ate grapefruit 3 times a day for 6 weeks felt a significant decrease in blood pressure during the research.
Reduces the risk of kidney stones – Grapefruit consumption can reduce the risk of developing kidney stones, which occur due to improper nutrition. Citric acid, which is found in fruit, is effective in preventing kidney stones.
Helps the wound healing process – Vitamin C present in grapefruit speeds up the healing of minor injuries, which means it helps the body to return to better health.
Differences between red and white grapefruit
The red grapefruit has a higher content of Vitamin A compared to the white one. One cup of red grapefruit juice offers about 2,645 international units or 50% of the daily requirement recommended of Vitamin A. White grapefruit provides 2% of the recommended daily intake.
Red grapefruit is much sweeter than white grapefruit and is preferred by most people.
The sugar, fiber and total calorie values of the two types of juniper are about the same. One cup of red grapefruit juice contains approximately 97 calories, 16 g of sugar – 15% of the daily recommended fiber requirement. And one cup of white grapefruit contains 76 calories, 17 g of sugar – 10% of the recommended fiber dose per day.
What are the contraindications of grapefruit consumption?
Grapefruit consumption is not always good because the juice or foods that have this fruit in their composition are contraindicated for most of the people who are undergoing treatment. Grapefruit interacts with certain factors, such as:
- May cancel the effect of contraceptives;
- It is not recommended for people taking blood cholesterol lowering treatment or those taking heart disease medications;
- If your doctor has prescribed you medicines for the following conditions, then you should completely avoid grapefruit consumption;
- HIV;
- Heart disease;
- Sleeping disorders;
- Hormonal disorders;
In conclusion, grapefruit provides you with protection against many conditions and provides the required daily intake of Vitamin C. However, it is important to remember that people taking medicines to treat certain diseases should avoid consuming grapefruit, regardless of the form in which it is found: juice, fruit or syrup, because it can interact with the treatment.
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