Consuming grapefruit juice may lower your triglycerides, a type of fat that can clog your arteries and increase your risk for heart attacks and strokes. But, if you combine grapefruit juice with some medications, including birth control pills, you could increase your risk of cardiovascular problems. Before you add grapefruit juice to your diet to improve the condition of your arteries -- or for any other reason -- talk to your doctor about possible interactions between grapefruit juice and the medications you take.
Blood Pressure and Triglycerides Study
A study led by Shela Gorinstein of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem demonstrated grapefruit's possible benefits toward healthy arteries. The study, published in "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" in March 2006, tested the effects of grapefruit consumption on 57 men and women suffering from high blood pressure. After consuming grapefruit for a month, all participants realized a reduction in the amount of triglycerides in their arteries. Red grapefruit consumption proved to have the most significant effect on lowering triglyceride levels. Grapefruit juice contains less pulp than whole grapefruit. It may provide a reduced benefit in reducing triglycerides in your arteries.
Fiber
Fiber in your diet can improve the condition of your arteries by reducing high blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein -- LDL or "bad" cholesterol. Healthy arteries make you less susceptible to blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. Grapefruit juice provides a small amount of fiber -- 0.2 mg per 1 cup -- but a large grapefruit provides 2.8 g. Because of their higher fiber content, all types of whole fruit provide greater benefit to your arteries than juice. Examples of high-fiber fruits include raspberries, apples with skin and bananas.
Drug Interactions
If you take medications, talk to your doctor before using grapefruit to benefit your arteries. The long list of medications known to cause serious interactions when combined with grapefruit include birth control pills, calcium channel blockers used to treat high blood pressure and statins used to treat high cholesterol. The properties in grapefruit juice make it more difficult for your body to metabolize drugs efficiently. Some drugs and some people respond more seriously to the inhibiting effect. Known interactions include blood clots, gangrene, heart attacks and strokes. Drinking just 1 cup of grapefruit juice may slow drug metabolism by 47 percent, according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide.
Considerations
Drinking grapefruit juice may improve the condition of your arteries, but don't rely on it alone. If you smoke, stop. If you drink alcohol, limit consumption to one or two drinks a day -- the higher amount applies to men younger than 50. The American Heart Association says you can reduce the amount of triglycerides in your arteries by 50 percent if you exercise moderately at least 150 minutes a week and follow a low-fat, low-sugar diet. Limit saturated fat to 16 g a day, trans fat to 2 g a day and calories from foods and beverages with added sugar to about 100 calories daily.
References
- MayoClinic.com: High Blood Pressure -- Hypertension; March 22, 2011
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Red Grapefruit Positively Influences Serium Triglyceride Level in Patients Suffering From Coronary Atherosclerosis: Studies in Vitro and in Humans; Shela Gorinstein, et al.; March 2006
- The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: Grapefruit and Medication: A Cautionary Note; February 2006
- "The New York Times"; Experts Reveal the Secret Powers of Grapefruit Juice; Nicholas Bakalar; March 21, 2006
- MayoClinic.com: Calcium Channel Blockers; Dec. 16 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Blood Clots; Oct. 6 2010
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