Read on to find out why grapefruit juice has more to offer besides being a regular breakfast item for dieters and weight watchers when it comes to health and nutritional benefits.
With its underlying sweetness, tangy and tart grapefruit has so much juiciness that it can rival the popularity of the ubiquitous orange. Grapefruit is available all year round, with the oil extracted from its peel and seeds commonly used as an ingredient in medicine, food and skin care products, and even perfume.
Is Grapefruit Good For You?
Grapefruit is an exceptional source of the antioxidant vitamin C which is known to strengthen the immune system. The vitamin C content of grapefruit can help eliminate cold symptoms or reduce the severity of an existing cold. As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps prevent damage by free radicals which trigger the cascade of inflammation.
Given that, the vitamin C in grapefruit can reduce the severity of several inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and osteoarthritis. Vitamin C promotes cardiovascular health as well by combating cholesterol oxidation from free radical activities which lead to the formation of plaques that cause strokes and heart attacks.
5 Fun Facts About Grapefruit
What is Grapefruit Juice Good For?
If you want to skip all the scientific mumbo jumbo, then skip straight to the full list summary of all the grape juice benefits further below.
The health benefits of grapefruit juice are numerous and almost unmatched by other fruits. Grapefruit juice is low in calories yet high in nutrients that help maintain healthy skin, reduce the risks for numerous diseases, and facilitate safe weight loss. Grapefruit juice makes a flavourful and refreshing breakfast to start your day with.
Grapefruit contains phytonutrients called limonoids that can inhibit tumor formation by promoting a detoxifying enzyme known as glutathione-S transgerase. This enzyme triggers a liver reaction that makes toxic compounds water soluble for the body to excrete. Grapefruit pulp also has glucarates that may help prevent certain cancers.
A cup serving of grapefruit juice contains only 90 calories so dieters can enjoy it without worrying about weight gain. It has zero cholesterol, only two milligrams of sodium, and 378 milligrams of potassium which plays a crucial role in muscle control, blood pressure levels, nerve functions, mineral balance, and water regulation in the body.
Grapefruit juice contains calcium, vitamins A, E, B-complex (including folate), and K, essential oils such as citral and pinene, lycopene, and other flavonoids that all contribute to the fruit’s efficacy as a “super food.” Although it can taste sour and bitter, this citrus fruit has nutritive values that compensate for these.
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Grapefruit Juice Benefits
Those who are overweight could all do with daily servings of grapefruit juice. In juice form, grapefruit’s benefits are more easily absorbed, albeit some prefer to eat it as solid and whole food. Just look at the plethora of grapefruit juice benefits:
- Digestive system: its high content of water and fiber prevent constipation as well as promote regular bowel movement.
- Hydration: the 91% water in grapefruit is full of electrolytes that impact blood acidity (pH levels) and muscle function.
- Skin: the vitamin C content in grapefruit helps reduce wrinkles, fight skin damage caused by environmental factors, and in collagen production.
- Asthma: drinking grapefruit juice on a regular basis can lower the risk of developing asthma.
- Cardiovascular disease: the phytonutrient known as naringenin aids in blood relaxation; impaired blood vessels increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Kidney stones: the formation of calcium oxalate stones in the kidneys is reduced with regular intake of grapefruit juice.
- Cancer: this citrus fruit juice can provide protection against colon and lung cancers by increasing the rate of apoptosis, or suicide, of cancerous cells.
- Reduction of Cholesterol: grapefruit juice can help reduce the levels of low-density lipoproteins, a.k.a. “bad cholesterol,” in the blood.
- Infections: regular consumption of grapefruit juice strengthens the immune system against viral, fungal, and bacterial infections.
- Reduction of blood sugar (insulin) levels: compounds in grapefruit juice help the body decrease insulin levels and use food for energy instead of storing it as fat.
- Appetite suppressant: its high fiber content can help weight watchers feel full for longer and reduce the potential of overeating as well as mindless snacking.
- Repair of damaged DNA: grapefruit’s naringenin content helps in repairing damaged DNA in cells that can develop into prostate cancer.
- Diabetes: diabetics can take grapefruit juice safely because it regulates and reduces body’s starch levels.
Grapefruit Juice Nutrition
Serving sizes of grapefruit juice will have different number of calories. An ounce serving, for instance, will have 12 calories, a 100 milliliter-serving will have 40 calories, and a hundred gram serving will have 38 calories.
Additionally, there are pink and white grapefruit types of juices, both sweetened and unsweetened. However I highly recommend you personally juice grapefruit yourself as this is certainly the healthier option.
Here is a comparison of nutritional information for different types of grapefruit juice:
White Grapefruit Juice | Fresh Grapefruit Juice | Frozen Grapefruit Juice | Unsweetened White Grapefruit Juice | Bottled Carton Canned Grapefruit Juice | Unsweetened Grapefruit Juice Canned | Sweetened Grapefruit Juice Canned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.25g fat | 0.25g fat | 0.32g fat | 0.25g fat | 0.25g fat | 0.25g fat | 0.7g fat |
22.72g carbs | 22.72g carbs | 23.86g carbs | 22.13g carbs | 22.13g carbs | 27.82g carbs | 32.45g carbs |
1.24g protein | 1.24g protein | 1.36g protein | 1.28g protein | 1.28g protein | 1.45g protein | 0.40g protein |
96 calories | 96 calories | 101 calories | 94 calories | 103 calories | 115 calories | 128 calories |
So if you are lover of grapefruit juice but weren't entirely sure which type of juice you should choose, hopefully now you will see that fresh grapefruit juice is better for you than the canned version.
