Loaded with dietary fiber, vitamin C and potassium, grapefruit also contains several antioxidant compounds, such as lycopene, which are responsible for its color as well as its health effects. Research suggests that incorporating grapefruit into your dietary plan might help reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
High Cholesterol Levels
In research reported in the March 2006 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem explored the effects of grapefruit on patients with high blood cholesterol, which increases heart disease risk. Patients were divided into one of the following groups for 30 days: red grapefruit; white grapefruit; or no grapefruit. Scientists observed that patients in both grapefruit groups experienced decreases in cholesterol levels compared to the group without grapefruit. Grapefruit's high content of antioxidants might be responsible for the results, according to researchers.
C-Reactive Protein
Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, which might improve heart health by reducing C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker associated with cardiovascular disease. Scientists from the University of California discovered that healthy nonsmoking adults with elevated C-reactive protein consuming 1,000 mg of vitamin C supplementation per day for two months experienced decreases in C-reactive protein compared to those consuming vitamin E supplementation and a placebo, according to findings published in the January 2009 issue of the journal "Free Radical Biology and Medicine."
Naringenin
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors for heart disease. These factors include central obesity, hypertension and glucose intolerance. Researchers from the University of Western Ontario examined the impact of naringenin, a compound found in grapefruit, on metabolic syndrome in mice. They found that mice following a high-fat diet without naringenin became obese and glucose intolerant. In addition, mice also increased their triglycerides and cholesterol levels. However, in mice adhering to the same diet with naringenin did not experience any of those effects, according to research reported in the July 2009 issue of the journal "Diabetes."
Interactions
In research reported in the January 2005 issue of the "American Journal of Nursing," scientists from the University of Rochester Medical Center stated that grapefruit juice can interact with certain medications, which can have severe consequences. Grapefruit products inhibit the enzyme necessary to metabolize medications, thereby increasing the buildup of medications, such as statins, in the blood. Consult your health care provider before taking grapefruit products while on medications.
References
- Science Daily: Red Grapefruit Appears To Lower Cholesterol, Fight Heart Disease
- Free Radical Biology and Medicine: Vitamin C Treatment Reduces Elevated C-Reactive Protein; G. Block et al.; January 2009
- Nutra Ingredients: Grapefruit Extract May Prevent Metabolic Syndrome
- Science Daily: Grapefruit Juice And Medication Can Be A Dangerous Mix
