Grapefruit is a citrus fruit loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals. It is high in vitamin C and also contains fiber, potassium and vitamin A. Research has shown that eating grapefruit is beneficial to heart health, including lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, according to the World's Healthiest Foods and Science Daily websites.
Significance
Grapefruit appears to have both direct and indirect effects on cholesterol. Grapefruit is one of the best sources of the antioxidant vitamin C. Vitamin C fights free radicals, which are substances that can damage cells and lead to disease. According to the World's Healthiest Foods, free radicals can oxidize cholesterol, leading to plaque build-up in arteries. This, in turn, can lead to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. Grapefruit also contains fiber, which has been shown in numerous studies to play a role in lowering cholesterol levels.
Expert Insight
Results of a study published in 2006 in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" showed that grapefruit has significant cholesterol-lowering effects. The study, performed by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, included 57 high-risk patients whose high blood cholesterol had failed to respond to statin drugs, Science Daily explains. Patients who ate grapefruit for 30 days saw significant reductions in their blood levels of total cholesterol, LDL --- the "bad" cholesterol --- and fatty triglycerides, while those who ate no grapefruit saw no significant change. Red grapefruit was particularly effective at lowering cholesterol, producing twice the percentage reduction of blond grapefruit. Researchers speculated that grapefruit's antioxidant properties were responsible for the results.
Potential
Grapefruit contains phytonutrients called limonoids, which the World's Healthiest Foods reports have been shown in studies to lower the risk of certain cancers. Researchers working with the U.S. Agricultural Research Service have also shown in preliminary studies that limonoids may also work to lower cholesterol. In the research, human liver cells exposed to limonoids produced less of a compound linked to higher cholesterol levels. More research is needed as of 2010, however, to prove a clear link between the two.
Warning
If you are already on medication for high cholesterol, you must be very careful about eating grapefruit. According to Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian with the Mayo Clinic, grapefruit can interact with some cholesterol-lowering medications, leading to excessively high levels of the drugs in your blood. This can increase the risk of potentially serious side effects. If you are taking a cholesterol-lowering drug, talk to your doctor before adding grapefruit to your diet.
Prevention/Solution
In addition to eating grapefruit, there are many other things you can do to help lower your cholesterol. The Mayo Clinic recommends adding fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It also advises you to avoid saturated and trans fats; eat more "good" fats, such as polyunsatured and monounsaturated fats; get 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day to work your cardiovascular system and keep your weight in check; and to avoid smoking and keep your alcohol intake to a moderate level.
