Grapefruits are low in calories but full of nutrients. It provides calories, niacin, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, carbohydrate, protein, fat, iron, sodium, riboflavin and thiamine. Grapefruit juice help to lower risk from many diseases and also help to reduce weight.
Grapefruit is a well-recognized remedy for weight loss, and helps with water retention and lymphatic congestion. It increases fat metabolism, treats cellulite and can dissolve gallstones.
Grapefruit juice is consumed widely in today's health-conscious world as a protector against cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
Grapefruit juice has recently been reported to decrease serum cholesterol by 16% and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol by 21% compared with mineral water in patients with hyperlipidaemia.
The three major types of grapefruit that exist today are white, pink/red and ruby/rio red varieties. Grapefruit juice combines the sweet and tangy flavor of the orange and shaddock and also provides up to 69% of the RDA for vitamin C along with as many as 250 mg of potassium.
Studies indicated that two bioactive compounds were isolated from grapefruit juice and grapefruit peel oil. The chemical structures of these compounds were identified as bergaptol and geranyl coumarin which was reported to have effective antioxidant properties.
Traditionally grapefruit juice has been found to contain antioxidant, antinitrosaminic, antiseptic, aperitif, cardiotonic, detoxicant, hypocholesterolemic, sedative and stomachic activities.
Grapefruit juice: Nutritional value and health benefits
