Benefits of Grapefruit and Grapefruit Diet

The grapefruit is a very popular citrus fruit, and a lot of people like eating grapefruits believing that they are very useful for their health. Grapefruit is one of the most miraculous and mystic fruits. First of all, it is about its name, the grapefruit: what can a citrus fruit have in common with grapes? The secret is in the way the fruit appears on the trees: in a cluster of 5-10 fruits, resembling the cluster of grapes. Latin name of the fruit is “citrus paradisi“, or “the citrus from paradise”. The fruits are usually 6-10 inches round, they have smooth dotted peel and 11-14 juicy segments with membranous lemon-color walls and refreshing, a little bitterish juice.

The grapefruit was first discovered by Griffith Hughes in 1750 in Barbados and named “the forbidden fruit of Barbados“. In the end of the eighteenth century, several travelers reported about a miraculous citrus they found in Jamaica. In those times, grapefruit tree leaves were used for decoration, but later on it was discovered that the fruits have a very pleasant taste, contain a lot of vitamins and other useful elements, and can be used as food. That is why in the end of the nineteenth century the farmers in the U.S and Europe started actively cultivating grapefruit trees and receiving good profits from their plantations.

Today, there are more than 20 types of grapefruit, which can be divided for 3 groups according to the color of their flash: red, pink and white grapefruits. Like all citrus fruits, grapefruit is very rich in vitamin C: 100 g of grapefruit contain 50% of our daily norm for this Vitamin.  Also, grapefruit contains lots of natural antioxidants, known for their anti-aging and anti-cancerous properties. Finally, some recent studies proved that grapefruit can lower the level of cholesterol, have positive effects on our skin and lower the risks of having a heart disease. However, it is necessary to consult a therapist or a health care practitioner before taking grapefruit on a daily basis, because many people can develop allergy for this fruit. Besides, if you are taking some medications, it is not always good to mix them with grapefruit.

Probably, the majority of you heard about so called “the Miraculous Grapefruit Diet”, which is supposed to help you put off weight by drinking about three glasses of grapefruit juice every day. It is claimed that grapefruit contains certain agents which help to burn calories and fat more effectively. A famous brilliant actress Sophia Lorain was the first to publicize her success with the Grapefruit Diet, saying that she managed to preserve her youth and beauty by eating 1 grapefruit every day. She also attracted public attention to numerous positive properties of this natural source of vitamins, its abilities to quench one’s thirst, refresh and fasten detoxification processes, improve our skin and gums, and so on.

The Grapefruit Diet has its advantages and disadvantages. It can help you to put off some good weight for a really short period of time (something like 10 pounds for a fortnight). Besides, it is a fad diet which is not connected with hunger and includes eating full meals three times a day, plus a bedtime snack. In terms of this diet, a person is required to eat a half of grapefruit with every meal, or drinking 8 oz of grapefruit juice with every meal. However, it is very important to remember the dangerous sides of the Grapefruit Diet. It is quite risky and can not be used for a long period of time. Also, those people who are sensitive to all types of citruses, as well as the majortity of women after 40-45, should avoid this diet, despite all its advantages. Be careful about this famous diet, do not put your health in danger and talk to your doctor if you are believe that your health is strong enough to go through this diet.

Posted in Grapefruit Benefits , Grapefruit Diet