Over the weekend I was reintroduced to grapefruit, a miracle worker for some. Tart and tangy with an underlying sweetness, grapefruits rival with its juicy sister fruits because they have many of the same health benefits.
The grapefruit is a large citrus fruit related to the orange, lemon and pomelo and are categorized as white (blond), pink or ruby. This doesn’t reflect their skin color, which is either yellow or pinkish-yellow, but rather describes the color of their flesh.
This powerhouse fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C to help support your immune system. We all know that Vitamin C is a go-to choice to fight a cold. It also contains the antioxidant, Lycopene, known to combat certain cancers by binding itself onto free radicals. Lycopene works to help keep them from causing cell damage that could result in cancer and other diseases. Sidenote: Lycopene is only found in pink and red grapefruit. White grapefruit does not provide this carotenoid.
If you’re still not convinced of grapefruit’s beneficial qualities, it is ranked among the highest in antioxidant activity and can help lower your cholesterol. Both blond and red grapefruit can reduce blood levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and red grapefruit lowers triglycerides as well, shows a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Grapefruits should be firm, yet slightly springy when gentle pressure is applied. They won’t have an smell if kept refrigerated, but will have a sweet aroma when room tempature. You can purchase them year round, but the height of the season ranges from winter through early spring.
Stock up on this stellar fruit for a health boost!
