Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
YOU SMELL BEAUTIFUL
Did you know … if men want women to look younger, they should smell some grapefruit? While wearing masks that were infused with various aromas, men and women were asked to estimate the age of models who appeared in photos. When women wore the mask infused with grapefruit, their guesstimate was closer to the real age. But when men smelled the grapefruit, they guessed the models were six years younger than they actually were!
What’s the Story?
Grapefruit is thought to be a cross between an orange and a pomelo that was brought to Barbados from Indonesia in the seventeenth century. Some of the most popular grapefruit varieties include Duncan, Foster, Marsh, Oroblanco, Paradise Navel, Redblush, Star Ruby, Sweetie, Thompson and Triumph. The two most common Western varieties include the Marsh and Ruby Red.
A Serving of Food Lore …
The grapefruit was first discovered in Barbados in 1750 and was later found in Jamaica in 1789. When introduced to Florida in the nineteenth century, the grapefruit tree was grown only for novelty, as the actual fruit was rarely consumed. In 1874, New York imported 78,000 grapefruits from the West Indies to meet a growing popularity and demand. In 1962, an American horticulturist proposed to change the name of grapefruit to “pomelo” in an attempt to increase sales; however, this was unsuccessful.
Where Is Grapefruit Grown?
The United States is one of the largest growers of grapefruits. Florida is the country’s main grower, with help from California, Arizona and Texas. Other countries with commercial production include Israel, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico and Cuba.
Why Should I Eat Grapefruit?
Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C. The pink and red varieties are fifty times higher than white grapefruit in carotenoids that act as powerful antioxidants. It is also a good source of potassium, calcium, and, in the case of red grapefruit, vitamin A. One half of a grapefruit contains more than 150 phytonutrients, mostly flavonoids, believed to help the body fight against ageing, allergies, infection, cancer, ulcers and heart disease.
Home Remedies
Most of the home remedies utilize the grapefruit seed versus the fruit. Grapefruit seed extract is thought to be useful in treating external skin conditions, especially fungal-related conditions such as athlete’s foot, jock itch and dandruff.
Throw Me a Lifesaver!
PERIODONTAL DISEASE: A study found that bleeding associated with periodontitis was significantly reduced after drinking grapefruit juice. The researchers attribute the amazing results to the vitamin C content of grapefruit juice, known to help wound and tissue repair.
HEART HEALTH: Researchers studied the effect of eating one grapefruit a day on fifty-seven patients who had bypass surgery. Those who consumed one red grapefruit a day for thirty days showed decreases in total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides.
WEIGHT LOSS: One study found that obese individuals who consumed one half of a fresh grapefruit before meals for twelve weeks lost a significant amount of weight and had improvements in insulin resistance associated with metabolic syndrome. A fad diet based on eating grapefruits was developed in Hollywood, California, and first became popular in the 1930s, making a later resurgence in the 1970s. Medical and nutritional experts found it to be nutritionally incomplete and unsound. But be assured—adding grapefruit to a healthy diet is sound advice and may be a valuable tool in achieving an optimal weight!
CANCER: A study found that a particular flavonoid found specifically in grapefruit helps to repair damaged DNA in human prostate cancer cells. A diet including grapefruit reduced inflammatory markers and increased apoptosis (programmed cell death) associated with colon cancer in a rat study.
Don’t Throw Me a Millstone!
Grapefruit juice may interfere with the rate of absorption of many prescription medications. Check with your doctor, a pharmacist or a registered dietitian to see if grapefruit juice is right for you.
Tips on Using Grapefruit
SELECTION AND STORAGE:
• There are two main varieties of grapefruit, white and pink/red, that can be found year-round.
• Choose firm and heavy grapefruits for their size. Avoid those that appear to have water-soaked areas or have an overly soft spot at the stem. Watch for signs of dehydration and skin collapse at the stem.
• Store grapefruits in the refrigerator crisper for up to two to three weeks, but keep in mind that they are juicier when served warm rather than cool.
PREPARATION AND SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
• Slice the fruit in half, separating the flesh from the membrane and scooping out each section with a spoon. A grapefruit spoon simplifies this process.
• If seeds are present, remove the seed before eating. A less labour-intensive way to consume a grapefruit is to peel and eat it like an orange.
• Serve chilled, cut in half and flesh precut from the membranes. Sweeten with honey, agave syrup or sugar.
• Add grapefruit sections to green salads for added tang.
by Cynthia Sass
Servings: 1 • Prep and cooking time: 20 minutes
Make sure you use a ripe, sweet grapefruit for this recipe. Try brushing a little agave syrup on the surface if the grapefruit isn’t as sweet as you would like. This recipe contains six powerhouse foods.
INGREDIENTS:
1 medium grapefruit, sectioned
3oz/75g baby spinach leaves
2oz/50g yellow cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1oz/25g red onion, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh avocado, diced
1 tablespoon walnuts, chopped
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
DIRECTIONS:
Gently remove seeds from grapefruit sections. Lay on baking tray. Grill until bubbly; remove and set aside. Toss spinach with balsamic vinegar and place in salad bowl. Top with grapefruit, tomatoes, nuts, onion and avocado, and serve.
BREAK IT DOWN …
Calories: 110; Total fat: 4.5g; Saturated fat: .5g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 25mg; Total carbs: 17g; Fibre: 4g; Sugar: 11g; Protein: 2g.