Sunday, January 3, 2010

Grapefruit

GlucoLo


Dubbed as the “forbidden fruit” bearing the name “shaddock”. Grapefruit is known to its vinegary fruit, a fruit of a subtropical citrus tree. The tree of a grapefruit is evergreen which are typically seen at about 5 to 6 meter high and can reach up to 15 meters. It leaves tenders the color of dark green and thin. The fruit is skinned and large which bears the oblate shape and yellow-orange in color. The fruit flesh vary in color, it could be white, pink, and red pulps which all varies in sweetness depending on its class.

This sharp and tasty fruit is largely produce by the United States with its orchard at Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California. The fruit is also known as toronja or pomelo in Spanish.

Grapefruit has underlying sweetness and juiciness that competes the popular orange and some various health promoting fruits. Grapefruit is available all the year but its best fall on its season from winter to early spring.


NUTRITION FACTS
Grapefruit bestows various health advantages more than its capacity to drop weights. It is loaded with many nutritional goodies producing a piling quantity of vitamin C, folic acid, beta-carotene, and potassium which are all significant in protecting somebody’s heart. Pink grapefruit is fairly abundant in anti-oxidants and ruby red color offers an additional lycopene – a phytochemical which helps in avoiding LDL or bad cholesterol from oxidizing and impairing artery walls.

Pectin which is a form of soluble fiber which according to some studies helps in slowing down the evolution of atherosclerosis is also present in grapefruit.

According to some studies, taking a dosage of three 6-ounce grapefruit juice a day was seen to decrease the performance of an enzyme that stimulates tobacco chemical in causing cancer.

Grapefruit has an active substance known as naringenin and flavonoids. Naringenin substance helps in losing weight and flavonoids produces the bitter flavor of the fruit and hinders the consumption of fatty acids towards human cells and avert bodies from effectively utilizing carbohydrates.

Calories in grapefruit
California pink or red grapefruit – 46 calories
Arizona pink or red grapefruit – 46 calories
Florida pink or red grapefruit – 37 calories
California white grapefruit - 44 calories
Florida white grapefruit – 38 calories

Seed extract of grapefruit had been claimed to be an effective antimicrobial with confirmed performance opposing bacteria and fungi. But this clinical studies has not demonstrated its effect as anti microbial. GSE or grapefruit seed extract is endorsed as a vastly useful plant-based preservative by some natural personal care manufacturers, studies shows that the universal antimicrobial performance correlated with GSE measures is simply due to infectivity with artificial preservatives.

Discovered in 1989, grapefruit has the ability to raise the effects of drugs by increasing the power of its potent compounds. It contains naringenin, bergamottin and dihydroxybergamottin, which slows down the protein isoform CYP3A4 in the intestine. It is through inhibition of this enzyme that grapefruit raises the upshots of drugs. However, the application must be properly supervise to avoid overdosing of medications.


GRAPEFRUIT FOR DIABETES
Grapefruit not only offers great taste but also possess various medicinal characteristics which help in struggling diabetes by carrying down the blood glucose rate within a time frame of three days. But grapefruit diet is not sufficient to take down diabetes. One must consume additional fruit s and vegetables.

As recommended by some nutritionists, consumption of at least three servings of grapefruit a day is a must to anyone suffering from the wrath of diabetes. Because it consumption will be use as pre-emptive measure in struggling high blood sugar rates, particularly when applied in combination with a low fat, low-sugar, low-starch nutrition. The effects of this nutrition for diabetic patients will be experienced in less than three months.

The existence of naringenin and flavonoid in grapefruit makes it valuable for diabetic person. One symptom and indication of diabetes is overweight. Naringenin and flavonoid found in grapefruit lets the liver burn fats instead of storing it. Possibly, a dose of naringenin could avert in gaining weight without the need of altering nutrition and diets or cutting out particular foods. Naringenin is extremely effective in struggling diabetes principally due to its aptitudes which helps in balancing insulin and the glucose rates in human body.

Minimal alterations in the ways of life like keeping a health body weight, being bodily active and taking a balanced nutrition can support in decreasing the hazards of forming Type 2 Diabetes.


HEALTH BENEFITS OF GRAPEFRUIT

A Powerhouse of Vitamin C
As an excellent foundation of vitamin C, it supports in maintaining a good immune system. Vitamin C is proven by various researches to be cold-fighter. It also averts the free radical impairment which activates inflammatory cascade which correlated with the decreased rated of inflammatory situations like asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin C is also beneficial in advancing cardiovascular health.

Vitamin-C is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful free radicals; also is required for the maintenance of normal connective tissue as well for wound healing. It also facilitates dietary iron absorption from the intestine.

Antioxidant Lycopene
Lycope on grapefruit is an anti-tumor substance. It has the superior ability to combat free radical oxygen which is compounds in impairing body cells. A regular consumption of the fruit, may greatly decrease the hazards of acquiring prostate cancer, as published by the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Encourages Favorable Health
Phytonutrients in grapefruit known as limonoids restrain tumor development by encouraging the structure of glutathione-S-transferase, a detoxifying enzyme. This enzyme glimmers a response within the liver which helps in producing noxious compounds more water soluble for emission from the body. Citrus pulp like grapefruit contain glucarates, compounds that may help prevent breast cancer.

The persistence and bioavailability of Limonin are potential substance which could help in the prevention of cancerous cells from reproducing.

OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS OF GRAPEFRUIT
• Delicious, grapefruits are very low in calories but rich in dietary insoluble fiber, pectin which by acting as bulk laxative helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time to toxic substances in the colon as well as binding to cancer causing chemicals in the colon.
• Pectin has also been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels by decreasing re-absorption of cholesterol binding bile acids in the colon.
• It contains very good levels of vitamin-A and flavonoid antioxidants such as naringenin, beta carotene, xanthin and lutein. Studies suggest that these compounds have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision.
• Vitamin A also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin-A and flavonoids helps to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
• Fresh fruit is very rich in potassium. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids, helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
• Red varieties of grapefruits are especially rich in the most powerful flavonoid antioxidant, lycopene. Studies have shown that lycopene protects skin damage from UV rays and offers protection against prostate cancer.


GlucoLo

No comments:

Post a Comment