Red grapefruit are vibrantly colored members of the citrus family and are higher in many nutrients than other varieties of grapefruit. Jonny Bowden notes in his book, "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth," that adding red grapefruit to your diet will help you get many of the nutrients you need for your health. Eat a half of a red grapefruit for breakfast, add segments to a fruit salad or squeeze into a glass for fresh juice. Whatever way you choose to add red grapefruit to your diet, you will get many nutritional benefits.
Lowers Bad Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels can be a precursor for heart disease and other health issues. Bowden reports that red grapefruits are more beneficial for lowering LDL, the bad type of cholesterol, because they contain more antioxidants than less colorful grapefruit varieties. Adding red grapefruit to your diet will lower your triglyceride levels and improve the health of your heart. Bowden adds that some patients experience up to a 20 percent drop in triglyceride levels simply by eating red grapefruit everyday.
Contains Lycopene
Bright red fruits and vegetables, including red grapefruits, contain a powerful compound called lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant that works to keep certain parts of your body healthy, as well as to prevent certain diseases. Consuming some foods that are rich in lycopene is related to a decreased risk of prostate cancer, Deborah Mitchell and Winifred Conkling report in their book, "The Complete Book of Nutritional Healing." Lycopene is also used as a preventative food and treatment method for eye disorders like glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.
May Prevent Cancer
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can cut your risk of certain cancers and including red grapefruit can have further cancer-preventing benefits. According to "The Complete Book of Nutritional Healing," red grapefruits contain compounds called limonoids, which have powerful cancer fighting capabilities. Limonoids produce an enzyme that may prevent tumor growth by detoxifying your body. Red grapefruits also contain glucarates, a substance that may reduce your risk of breast cancer. According to "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth," red grapefruit may help prevent many other types of cancer as well.
Provides Vitamins and Minerals
Red grapefruits contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals that make them a healthy addition to your diet. A 1-cup serving of red grapefruit supplies 2.5 g of fiber and only 69 calories. The same amount of red grapefruit also provides 292 mg of potassium, 85 mg of vitamin C and 596 IU of vitamin A. Red grapefruits also supply smaller amounts of many other nutrients, including calcium, B vitamins, magnesium and phosphorus.
References
- "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth"; Jonny Bowden; 2007
- "The Complete Book of Nutritional Healing"; Deborah Mitchell and Winifred Conkling; 2008
- USDA: Grapefruit, Raw, Pink and Red, Florida
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