FiVE reasons to eat : Grapefruit
- allsortsofkind
- May 31, 2018
- 2 min read
I am starting a new section of my blog and Instagram, #ASOK5reasons.
It will feature a food that has amazing benefits and why you may want consider including it in your diet.
Although easier than ever to have a vegan and plant based diet, it can be difficult sometimes to navigate all that's available.
Im hoping this new feature will help you find out more about the powerful virtues of plant food and empower you in the choices daily made.
So my first #ASOK5reasons feature is...
GRAPEFRUIT

F i V E reasons to eat grapefruit
ONE : Powerful antioxidants : Grapefruit is a rich source of antioxidants, such as vitamin C. These can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. Lycopene intake has been linked with a decreased risk of prostate cancer in several studies.
TWO : Digestion
Grapefruit, because of its water and fiber content, helps to prevent constipation and promote regularity a healthy digestive tract.
THREE : Hydration
Grapefruit consists of 91 percent water. This makes it one of the most hydrating fruits available. Grapefruit is also full of electrolytes and a great snack to have available to prevent dehydration.
FOUR : Blood pressure and heart health
The powerful nutrient combination of fiber, potassium, lycopene, vitamin C, and choline in grapefruit all help to maintain a healthy heart.
In one study, those who consumed 4069 milligrams (mg) of potassium per day had a 49 percent lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease compared with those who consumed less potassium.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, one grapefruit with a 3-to-3.5-inch diameter contains 139 mg of potassium. Grapefruit is an excellent option for helping to increase the daily intake of potassium.
Increasing potassium intake is also important for lowering blood pressure because of its powerful vasodilation effects. Vasodilation widens the arteries.
FIVE : Stroke
According to the American Heart Association, eating higher amounts of flavonoid may lower the risk of ischemic stroke for women. Flavonoids are compounds found in citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit.
The risk of ischemic stroke was 19 percent lower for those who consumed the highest amounts of citrus than for women who consumed the lowest amounts.
Cautionary note about Grapefruit & certain medications : Grapefruit can interact with dozens of medications, sometimes dangerously. Doctors are not sure which of the hundreds of chemicals in grapefruit are responsible. The leading candidate is furanocoumarin. It is also found in Seville (sour) oranges and tangelos; although these fruits have not been studied in detail, the guidelines for grapefruit should apply to them as well. Grapefruit's culprit chemical does not interact directly with your pills. Instead, it binds to an enzyme in your intestinal tract known as CYP3A4, which reduces the absorption of certain medications. When grapefruit juice blocks the enzyme, it's easier for the medication to pass from your gut to your bloodstream. Blood levels will rise faster and higher than normal, and in some cases the abnormally high levels can be dangerous. Always check with your doctor if you are taking medications before adding something new to your diet.
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