That blush of pink in your breakfast drink is more than just a pretty color. As scientific research has shown, it's a sign of the presence of the powerful antioxidant lycopene, a bonus nutrient absent in white grapefruit. Grapefruit and other citrus fruits can have dangerous interactions with some medications, so if you're taking prescription drugs, make sure they aren't on the no-mix list.
History and Habitat
The grapefruit, so named because it grows in clusters like grapes, is the product of a natural hybridization between the pomelo, a thick-skinned Asian fruit, and the orange. Although the new fruit was born in the West Indies in the mid-18th century, realization of its commercial potential was slow in coming. By the early 20th century, it had started generating significant profits for Florida growers. Further hybridization produced the pink and red-fleshed varieties preferred by consumers. Florida remains the largest producer in the United States, but grapefruit are also grown in Texas, Arizona and California, and in many other countries with subtropical climates.
Nutritional Profile
All shades of grapefruit are packed with vitamin C, and good sources of vitamins A and B, folates, iron, calcium, potassium and pectin, a fiber that helps keep the colon clean. Like other citrus fruits, they all contain liminoids, antioxidants that help protect cells against damage from compounds called free radicals, which are believed to hasten the aging process and increase the chances of developing health problems, including cancer and heart disease. However, pink and red varieties also contain lycopene, a potent antioxidant found in most red-colored fruits and vegetables, but not in those of other colors.
Disease-Fighting Properties
The mandate of The Cancer Project, a Washington-based nonprofit organization, is to work toward preventing cancer, and improving the survival rates of cancer patients, through education and research into nutritional therapies. The group maintains that scientific studies have demonstrated the value of lycopene in warding off cancers of the prostate, stomach and lungs, and positively influencing the outcomes of cancers of the pancreas, colon, rectum, esophagus, breast and cervix. An Israeli study published in the March 22, 2006, "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry" reported that both white and red grapefruit boosted antioxidant activity in patients who had undergone heart surgery. However, members of the red grapefruit group showed significantly decreased blood cholesterol levels, while the levels of the white grapefruit group didn't change. Researchers didn't know what made red grapefruit so much more effective than white grapefruit, but lead author Shela Gorinstein of Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggested that consumption would "most probably" benefit anyone, and not just heart patients, with high cholesterol.
Grapefruit and Drug Interactions
Chemicals in grapefruit and other citrus fruits can interfere with the activity of enzymes that help metabolize certain medications. If these drugs remain in your system for too long without being broken down, they can accumulate to potentially dangerous levels. Printed information dispensed with prescriptions should specify any possible adverse interaction with grapefruit, but if in doubt, don't take chances. Ask your pharmacist or health care provider.
References
- Purdue University, Department of Horticulture; Grapefruit: Citrus Paradisi
- North Dakota State University: "What Color Is Your Food?"; Julie Garden-Robinson, Feb. 2009
- Mayo Clinic, Consumer Health: Grapefruit Juice and Drug Interactions
- BBC News: "Grapefruit May Help Weight Loss"; Jan. 28, 2004
- The Cancer Project: Protective Foods
- Nutrition and You: Grapefruit Nutrition Facts; Source USDA National Nutrient Database
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