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9 Reasons to Eat More Grapefruit

Did you know that grapefruit is a superfood? According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, half a grapefruit contains 64 percent of your daily needs for vitamin C, 28 percent of your daily needs for vitamin A, 2 percent of your daily calcium needs and 2 percent of your daily magnesium needs. Grapefruit also contains potassium, manganese, zinc, pantothenic acid, phosphorous, copper and is full of lycopene, beta-carotene and other antioxidants.  

Numerous studies have found that grapefruit is highly effective at fighting a variety of common health conditions. Find a list of nine reasons to eat more grapefruit below:

Grapefruit helps you lose weight

Grapefruit is able to give your current weight loss efforts a boost. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that adding grapefruit to the diet was able to increase weight loss efforts when compared against other supplements and a placebo pill. The grapefruit juice group lost about three pounds more than the placebo group during the 12-week trial.

Grapefruit lowers blood pressure

Antioxidants are not only beneficial for fighting cancer, but they also benefit heart health. The combination of nutrients in grapefruit makes it particularly beneficial. A study from 2006 published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that individuals who eat grapefruit regularly are more likely to have healthy cholesterol levels, which is a contributing factor to blood pressure. It is the potassium content in grapefruit that is associated with its ability to reduce blood pressure.

Grapefruit fights cancer

Grapefruit is high in antioxidants, making it beneficial in the fight against cancer. Lycopene is well known for its cancer-fighting effects and beta-carotene is known to reduce the instances of throat cancer.

Grapefruit reduces stroke risk

The American Heart Association states that eating oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits is proven to reduce stroke risk in women. In 2012, a study published in the journal Stroke found that women who ate the highest amount of grapefruit and citrus fruits had a 19 percent reduced chance of developing a stroke.

Grapefruit is hydrating

Grapefruit has a high water content, but it is the balance of electrolytes that makes eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice particularly hydrating. Grapefruit is 91 percent water and makes a great post-workout snack.

Grapefruit helps digestion

Grapefruit is both high in water and in fiber, which are both essential for healthy digestion and regularity to prevent constipation.

Grapefruit boosts the immune system

The high vitamin A and vitamin C content in grapefruit makes it effective at boosting your immune health. One single grapefruit contains more than enough vitamin C to get you through the day at optimal levels, as well as half of your required vitamin A.

Grapefruit promotes glowing skin

We all want better skin, and the antioxidants in grapefruit deliver just that. Grapefruit fights skin damage, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and helps the skin feel soft and smooth.

Grapefruit may fight asthma

Research shows that individuals who are low in vitamin C are more likely to develop asthma symptoms or experience worse asthma attacks. Eating a grapefruit a day can help reduce the risk of serious asthma attacks.

Easy ways to eat more grapefruit

Most of us eat grapefruit in the traditional way, by cutting it in half and eating it with a spoon, but that gets boring fast. Try these creative ways to add more grapefruit to your diet:

Enjoy the delicious taste and delightful health benefits of grapefruit!

—Brenda Priddy

Brenda is a writer, chef and health nut with many years of writing experience in the alternative health industry. She specializes in health news, healthy living, alternative treatments, and healthy recipes. She loves educating others about sustainable, healthy living. Brenda lives in Texas with her husband and two daughters.

Sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=25
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-grapefruit.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16579728
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16506849
http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/43/4/946

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