Grapefruit Juice

Species name:  C. paradisi.

What is Grapefruit? The first documented evidence of the grapefruit was in Barbados in 1750.

It was bred as a hybrid of the pomelo and the sweet orange, though its taste more closely mirrors the pomelo.

It first arrived in Florida in 1823, and since then further crosses have produced the tangelo, minneola, and the sweetie.

Until the 1800s, the grapefruit was called the shaddock or shattuck.

Its current name is due to the clusters of fruit on the tree that sometimes look similar to grapes.

There was no differentiation made between the grapefruit and pomelo until the 1830s, and its true origins were unknown until the 1940s.

Home Remedies using Grapefruit Juice:

Benefits and Uses of Grapefruit Juice:

Grapefruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C.

The pink and red colors denote the presence of the antioxidant, lycopene.

Studies are indicative that grapefruit helps lower cholesterol.

There is also evidence to support the premise that grapefruit seeds have low levels of antioxidant properties.

It also forms a core part of the popular grapefruit diet with the theory that the fruit's low glycemic index helps the body's metabolism burn fat.

The oil from the grapefruit peel is used in aromatherapy.

The pectin in grapefruit contains soluble fiber, which is part of a well-balanced, nutritious diet.

Grapefruit seed extract is believed to be a strong antimicrobial that is effective against bacteria and fungi.

However, studies conducted have not been able to document this belief.

• Help with weight loss
• Lowers the risk of heart disease
• Increased metabolism
• Protection from disease (lycopene antioxidant)
• Use as aromatherapy to relieve stress
• Protection against colds and flu (Vitamin C)
• Protects against bacteria and fungi (unsubstantiated).
• Protection from various diseases due to presence of several antioxidants
• Drink in juice form
• Eat as fruit

Side Effects of Grapefruit Juice:

For all its good and nutritional qualities, the grapefruit can have a number of interactions with various drugs, often increasing the drugs effectiveness.

Continuing the customary dosage with these drugs can cause an overdose, so if you like to consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice, be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist about any precautions with medications that you are taking.