13 Amazing Health Benefits of Grapefruit

Grapefruit health benefits includes treating influenza, treating fever, regulating appetite, treating malaria, manage fatigue, control diabetes, treats indigestion and regulate sleep pattern. Other benefits includes increasing acidity level to aid digestion, removing flatulence, treating constipation, treating urinary tract diseases and fighting bacterials.

Grapefruit is one of the most nutritious fruits. It is a power of vitamin C and a safe source to consume plenty of antioxidants that your body needs. The fruit is loaded with components that function to keep your body healthy and energized. Experts suggest consuming grapefruit to people with stomach problems as this potent fruit can treat indigestion in children and adults alike.

What is Grapefruit?

It is called grapefruit because it grows like grapes – in bunches. The shape and color of grapefruit vary. Its interior contains sweet and sour pulp and flesh. The color of the flesh is red, bright pink, and white. Apart from nutritious properties, grapefruit contains high water content which makes it a thirst-quenching fruit. The wondrous fruit is scientifically known as Citrus Paradisi. Moreover, you can consume it in chunks and can add into fruit salads and desserts to give them a citrusy and refreshing taste.

Nutritional Value of Grapefruit

• Biotin          5%
• Bioflavonoids 4%
• Calcium 5%
• Copper 3%
• Fiber 8%
• Lycopene         4%
• Pantothenic acid 6%
• Potassium 6%
• Sugar 3%
• Vitamin A 19%
• Vitamin B1 19%
• Vitamin C          59%

13 Amazing Health Benefits of Grapefruit

1. Grapefruit Treats Influenza

Grapefruit is a powerhouse of components that helps alleviate influenza and combats factors that contribute to it. The fruit is loaded with naringin which is a flavonoid – an essential antioxidant. Consuming foods that contain a high content of antioxidants like grapefruit is necessary as they are anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. Your body needs antioxidants to prevent your immune system from influenza and various serious health problems.

2. For Fever

Fever is indeed a draining health condition. It gets worrisome when body temperature constantly goes up despite following prescribed medicines. That is where grapefruit comes into the picture as it said to ward off burning feeling in case of high temperature. Since most of the infectious bacteria contribute to fever, being enriched in vitamin C, grapefruit can effectively prevent your immune system from falling prey to harmful bacteria.

3. It Regulates Appetite

Increased appetite encourages you to consume multiple meals and calories found in them allow you to gain extra pounds. According to nutritionists, consuming chunks of juicy grapefruit can function as an appetite suppressant. It is said that the pleasant smell of the fruit helps reduce the feeling of sudden hunger. Moreover, consuming grapefruit regularly stimulates cholecystokinin – a hormone that is known to regulate digestive juices and suppress your appetite effectively. Being lower in fat content and loaded with fiber, grapefruit is an ideal option for obese as well.

4. For Malaria

You won’t believe it but the grapefruit is packed with natural quinine that is said to be an effective component requires treating malaria. Quinine is an alkaloid that doesn’t only treat malaria but equally beneficial for nocturnal leg cramps, lupus, arthritis, etc. that is what makes grapefruit a miraculous fruit.

5. Beneficial in Fatigue

Grapefruit is a tasty way to ward off fatigue. The combination of vitamins and various healthy properties function to combat factors that contribute to fatigue. Apart from this, a compound – nootkatone found in the fruit that effectively dispels constant tiredness and boosts your energy levels via AMPK acceleration. Moreover, consuming fresh and citrusy chunks of grapefruit can become a healthy alternative to processed and sugary energy drinks.

6. It Control Diabetes

Due to minimum sugar content in the fruit, diabetic can consume it. Grapefruit can effectively alleviate increased levels of starch in your body allowing proper sugar flow that is necessary to handle diabetes. Moreover, grapefruit is beneficial for people with diabetes due to the high content of flavonoid found in it that helps regulate insulin levels. People with diabetes cannot consume fruits due to sugar content, but grapefruit is a safe and nutritional option for them.

7. For Indigestion

Experts recommend consuming grapefruit to treat indigestion. It is light and a powerhouse of fiber that allow proper digestion by warding off irritation and inflammation in your stomach. Moreover, the pulp of grapefruit allows digestive juices to flow effectively that facilitate bowel movement keeping your excretory system on track. Due to the tremendous qualities of grapefruit, its extract is now being incorporated into the modern medication to treat indigestion and various stomach problems.

8. It Regulates Sleep Pattern

Consumed in any form, grapefruit can be a sweet and sour alternative to sleeping pills. It is indeed unbelievable for insomniacs that they can sleep well only by incorporating grapefruit into their diet. The tryptophan found in the fruit promote peaceful along with regulating irregular sleep patterns.

9. For Increased Acidity Levels

If not treated on time, increased acidity levels can contribute to various stomach problems. Consuming fresh chunks of grapefruit developed an alkaline condition in your intestines that aids in proper digestion. Moreover, the citric acid found in the fruit helps during alkalinity reaction after digestion which is beneficial to decline acidity levels.

10. It Removes Flatulence

Grapefruit functions as an effective probiotic and digestive enzyme. Regularly consumption of the fruit before meals can reduce excessive flatulence and stomach problems. Although more studies are underway to find its further benefits on flatulence, nutritionist suggests consuming grapefruit in this regard due to its healthy properties.

11. For Stomach Problems

According to nutritionists, a grapefruit a day can keep stomach problems like constipation at bay. You can treat it by consuming the whole grapefruit early in the morning. The fiber and pulp in the fruit stimulate the colon and other factors that contribute to proper digestion. Both components also impact on stimulation and secretion of gastric juices that result in widening of the digestive tract and regulate bowel movement.

12. For Proper Urination

Being a powerhouse of vitamin C and potassium, it can treat problems in your urinary tract and can also help in proper urination. Moreover, being diuretic, grapefruit can treat kidney problems that occur due to irregular urination. However, in case of a serious health condition, it is suggested to consult with your primary care doctor and avoid self-medication.

13. It is Antibacterial

You should incorporate foods into your diet that contain antibacterial properties. Grapefruit is one of those foods that can ward off infectious bacteria effectively. If not treated adequately and on time, these bacteria can affect your health adversely.

Bottom Line

Grapefruit is surely a wondrous fruit. The components and their benefits to your overall well-being indicate that it is nothing less than medicine. Incorporate this sweet and sour fruit into your diet and enhance the quality of your life.