Grapefruits are a common member of the citrus family. Depending on whom you talk to, they're either refreshing morning treats or acidic orbs of inedible tartness. Grapefruit has been the topic of much attention as a diet food, and it does seem to have certain health-related effects that are not necessarily conferred by its citrus brethren.
Weight Loss
Dr. Ken Fujioka studied the effects of grapefruit consumption on body weight as well as metabolic syndrome, a grouping of medical disorders that contribute to the development of heart disease and diabetes. Twelve weeks into the study, obese patients who ate grapefruit, drank grapefruit juice or took grapefruit supplements had lost up to five times the amount of weight that was lost by patients who took a placebo. Fujioka's study was published in the March 31, 2006 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food." Grapefruit consumption was also observed to improve insulin resistance. The mechanisms by which grapefruit achieved these results are still unclear.
Cancer Protection
Citrus fruits -- and grapefruit in particular -- may benefit human health through anti-carcinogenic effects, according to Dr. Kristine Cuthrell of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii. Cuthrell reviewed human and animal studies on the bioactive compounds present in grapefruit and found that they inhibited the effects of enzymes in the body that cause carcinogens to be activated. White grapefruit juice was found to have cancer-protective qualities when consumed by smokers.
Drug Interactions
Medications prescribed by doctors can have both desired and undesired effects. Like pharmaceutical compounds, the grapefruit's bioactive power can cause some negative effects as well. Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., explains that substances found in grapefruit may increase the levels of prescription medication in the blood by hindering enzymes that help the body digest and excrete these medications.
Medications that are prescribed for heart arrhythmias, seizures, depression, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, HIV and immunosuppression may all have undesired interactions with grapefruit. If you are taking prescription medications, consult your physician to determine any possible dangers when adding grapefruit, grapefruit juice or grapefruit supplements to your diet. Zeratsky warns that even waiting 24 hours or more after eating grapefruit before taking your medication may not be sufficient to prevent an interaction.
References
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers: Journal of Medicinal Food: The Effects of Grapefruit on Weight and Insulin Resistance: Relationship to the Metabolic Syndrome
- ACS Publications: Grapefruit and Cancer: A Review
- MayoClinic.com: Grapefruit Juice: Can it Cause Drug Interactions?
- Medical News Today: Red Grapefruit Appears to Lower Cholesterol, Fight Heart Disease
Member Comments