If there is one particular fruit I could eat every day, that, without a doubt, would be a grapefruit. Grapefruit is a large citrus fruit commonly eaten as part of a balanced breakfast and here is why ;). Grapefruit is a nutritionally dense fruit. Despite having relatively few calories, it is also loaded with nutrients to help your body thrive ;) Especially after 40, trust me ;). It has also been found to have many different health benefits.
1. Eat grapefruit and boost your immune system
Like many citrus fruits, grapefruit is loaded with vitamin C, a nutrient shown to help boost your body’s immune system. Grapefruit is also loaded with vitamin A, another vitamin that has been proven to help immune function.This powerful combination could help keep the amount of time you spend sick to a minimum.
2. Adding grapefruit to your diet will help your weight management
Let's put it this way - obesity is a common medical problem that can lead to more issues, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes, especially when turning after 40, that's a fact! And overeating, without zero workout, is one contributing factor to obesity. However, fiber packed grapefruit can help with weight management by slowing the rate that your body digests food, making you feel fuller and reducing the desire to overeat. Think about it!
3. Eating grapefruit reduces the risk of kidney stones
Kidney stones can be extremely painful to pass. There are many causes of kidney stones, including weight, diet, and certain medications. Eating grapefruit may help prevent kidney stones formed by calcium buildup. The citric acid in grapefruit can bind with excess calcium to help flush it from your system.
4. Amazing nutritional value of grapefruit
There is a reason grapefruit is sometimes referred to as a superfood. In addition to its other health benefits, a serving of grapefruit is packed with vitamins and minerals. These include:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Calcium
- Iron
Nutrients per Serving of half of a medium grapefruit contains:
- Calories: 41
- Fat: 0 grams
- Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
- Sodium: 0 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 10 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Sugar: 9 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
Although many benefits, you should watch out for two things,
- If taking any medication (Grapefruit can have serious negative interactions with certain medications. These include some medications for high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, cholesterol, and anxiety, among others (therefore get advise with your GP if there is any medication in place!).
- Grapefruit is high in sugar (Although the amount you would find in one or two servings of fresh grapefruit is generally fine, the sugar content can add up quickly with grapefruit juices, so remember that. I still suggest you hydrate your body with water ;).
5. How to enjoy your grapefruit?
People most often enjoy grapefruit on its own rather than in recipes or meals :)
To eat a fresh grapefruit, first cut the fruit in half. Then, using a spoon, dig the fleshy triangles of fruit out of the rind, avoiding the bitter walls nestled between bits of fruit. Grapefruit can have a sharp, tangy taste to it, but trust me, once you get used to it you become addicted ;)
Grapefruit is an amazing fruit you can add to your breakfast. I love grapefruit in
- Smoothies
- With oats, seeds and natural yogurt
- With my salad, simply using the grapefruit juice as the alternative to lemon
- You can also add grapefruit to a bowl of quinoa among with some other veggies (I love avocados ;)).
- Etc.
As long as you are sticking to a grapefruit in the morning or until midday - you will be fine ;)
Find out what work best for you and go for it. There are so many options out there and balanced diet should be on your lists of favourites ;)
Until next time, Sassa.
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