Grapefruit

Citrus paradisi

Grapefruit


Grapefruits are a popular citrus fruit enjoyed by millions of people and are often eaten regularly as a breakfast staple as well as a popular snack. What many may not be aware of is that grapefruits are also one of the most highly regarded fruits when it comes to healthy nutrients and health benefits.


Grapefruits contains powerful antioxidants and valuable nutrients, such as Vitamins C, A, K, D, and B complex. Other important nutrients contained in grapefruits are potassium, folic acid, calcium, phytonutrients and phosphorus. Grapefruit is also fairly low in calories, delivering only 74 calories per cup.


Grapefruits can also be beneficial to the environment, itself. Little known facts are that grapefruit hulls can be used to condition soil. Old grapefruit trees can be salvaged for firewood. Grapefruit hulls and dried grapefruit can be used to feed cattle when combined with dried pulp.


Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/029489_grapefruit_health.html#ixzz2B4L2rgqM

Health Benefits - Grapefruit


Grapefruits are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. They contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals and researchers are continuously adding to grapefruit's long list of health benefits. Grapefruits are an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to support the immune system and can help reduce cold symptoms or the severity of the cold symptoms. Vitamin C may also reduce the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.


Researchers have shown that eating fruits high in vitamin C can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.


Grapefruits not only contain high amounts of vitamin C, but they also contain large amounts of potassium, vitamin A, and Fiber. Grapefruit contains pectin which is a soluble fiber that has been shown to lower cholesterol and slow the buildup of plaque on the inside walls of blood vessels. Ruby red grapefruit juice also contains lycopene which helps prevent LDL (bad cholesterol) from damaging artery walls.


Drinking the juice will give you all of the vitamins and minerals that the actual fruit does but it doesn't contain the fiber.


It should be noted, however, that grapefruits do interact with certain medications which may cause potentially dangerous side effects. This is due to the fact that they interfere in the absorption of certain medications. Therefore, if taking medications, consult a qualified health professional before consuming grapefruits or grapefruit extracts.


Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/029489_grapefruit_health.html#ixzz2B4L2rgqM







Health Benefits - Essential Oils - Pink Grapefruit


If Pink Grapefruit oil is applied topically, it can have beneficial toning and astringent effects. It has also been proven to stimulate the lymphatic system. In this way it helps the body remove toxins. Pink Grapefruit oil also stimulates liver and gallbladder function. It makes an excellent body tonic because it increases circulation and it tones skin cells.


According to ancient medicine, the sour taste of Grapefruit oil can be used to regulate and balance conditions like flatulence, constipation, anxiety, worry, restlessness, PMS, and insomnia. The sour taste also helps improve a sluggish digestive system.


Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/030838_pink_grapefruit_health_benefits.html#ixzz2B4UJw09I







Anti-Inflammatory - Arthritis - Lupus - Grapefruit


Daily consumption of grapefruits seems to relieve inflammation caused by inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.







Cancer - Prostate - Naringenin - Grapefruit


Grapefruits can be classified as one of "nature's medicines" as they are instrumental in addressing various diseases. One important attribute is that grapefruits have anti-cancer properties which can help prevent and help treat certain types of cancer. A recent study conducted at UCLA and Zhongshan University in China concluded that a beneficial plant compound found in grapefruit, Naringenin, helped repair DNA in human prostate cancer cells.


Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/029489_grapefruit_health.html#ixzz2B4L2rgqM





Another study that was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry shows that grapefruits help repair damaged DNA in human prostate cancer cells. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States. The older men become the more times their cells divide. The more times their cells divide, the greater the chance of their DNA mutating. Grapefruits help the body repair the damaged DNA and protect the body from developing cancer.


Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/028309_grapefruit_weight_loss.html#ixzz2B4RY9Jf9







Diabetes - Cholesterol - Naringenin - Grapefruit


Israeli scientists may have discovered an effective new way to treat high cholesterol and diabetes naturally. Dr. Yaakov Nahmias from the Benin School of Engineering and Computer Science at Hebrew University and his colleagues have discovered that naringenin, a molecule in grapefruits that gives the fruit its bitter taste, can help to treat arteriosclerosis, hyper-metabolism, and even diabetes.


The study, which was recently published in the journal PLoS One, explains that when a highly-bioavailable "nano-complex" of naringenin is consumed just before a meal that is high in fat and sugar, it can reduce the development of bad cholesterol by roughly 42 percent, and actually increase insulin sensitivity by 64 percent.


Dr. Nahmias and his colleagues allege that naringenin in its natural form is not very easily absorbed by the body. So they developed what they say is an improved version on the substance, which is surrounded by a ring of sugar called cyclodextrin, and that is 11 times more bioavailable than naringenin that comes straight from a grapefruit.


"The complex is special in that it is taken just before a meal, as a preventative measure," said Dr. Nahmias. "In comparison, existing medications are given only after the chronic development of abnormal lipid levels in the blood."


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032527_grapefruit_high_cholesterol.html#ixzz2B4QLIuSo







Diabetes Health - Heart Health - Naringenin - Grapefruit


Grapefruit helps to control blood sugar levels. Grapefruits are an excellent addition to a diet for diabetics.


The pharmaceutical industry has been doggedly searching for drugs that target a group of nuclear receptor proteins in the human body known by the long title of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs, for short). The reason? PPARs regulate the expression of genes that are involved in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, among other functions -- so the theory is that if drugs could control PPARs, the medications would treat diabetes, high cholesterol and even maybe obesity. 


But it turns out there's already a substance that could do all this. And it's not a side effect-laden chemical. It's a compound in grapefruit.


Scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), have discovered that naringenin, an antioxidant derived from the bitter flavor of grapefruits and other citrus fruits, triggers the liver to break down fat.


While the function of the pancreas is important to diabetics, the liver is the main organ responsible for the regulation of carbohydrates and blood levels of fat. After a meal, the blood is flushed with sugars, which activate LXR-alpha, a PPAR associated with inflammation. This triggers the liver to create fatty acids for long-term storage. But during periods of fasting (and low carb dieting) the process is reversed, fat cells release fatty acids and break them down to ketones. There's an increased sensitivity to insulin, too.


New research, just published in the online journal PLoS ONE, shows that naringenin activates two kinds of PPARs (dubbed PPAR-alpha and PPARy) and blocks LXR-alpha -- resulting in fasting-type benefits to the body:


"It is a process which is similar to the Atkins diet, without many of the side effects," Martin L. Yarmush, MD, PhD, director of the MGH Center for Engineering in Medicine and one of the paper's authors, said in a media statement. "The liver behaves as if fasting, breaking down fatty acids instead of carbohydrates." 


"It is a fascinating find," Yaakov Nahmias, PhD, the paper's senior author said in the press statement. He pointed out that the results of the research were what the pharmaceutical industry has long been seeking through drug research. 


"But their (drug) development was plagued by safety concerns. Remarkably, naringenin is a dietary supplement with a clear safety record. Evidence suggests it might actually protect the liver from damage," Dr. Nahmias added. If the results of the new study hold up in human patients, the research team believes the grapefruit compound could become a treatment for high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. 


Science Article: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0012399

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/029684_naringenin_grapefruit.html#ixzz2B4NXlMmn







Digestive Health - Fibres - Grapefruit


Grapefruit promotes proper functioning of the digestive system. The fibers in the fruit aid in preventing constipation.







Fatigue - Grapefruit


Grapefruit helps to alleviate fatigue. Those needing a quick pick-me-up will find that a glass of grapefruit and lemon juice, mixed in equal parts, will dispel general fatigue.







Heart Health - Blood Pressure - Cholesterol - Grapefruit


Grapefruit helps in controlling blood pressure and lowering cholesterol.







Immune System Health - Grapefruit


Consuming grapefruits on a regular basis boosts the immune system and helps prevent colds. Additionally, grapefruit juice is effective in healing sore throats, eliminating coughs, and reducing fevers. Grapefruits are also instrumental in increasing the body's alkalinity and reducing acidity, and in preventing or treating various diseases.







Kidney Health - Liver Health - Detox - Grapefruit


A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that drinking 2-4 cups daily of grapefruit, apple or orange juice reduced the risk of developing kidney stones. Drinking grapefruit juice is also an excellent way to detoxify the liver.


Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/028309_grapefruit_weight_loss.html#ixzz2B4RY9Jf9







Sleep Health - Insomnia - Grapefruit


Grapefruit can help to relieve insomnia. People suffering from this condition should drink one glass of grapefruit juice before going to sleep.







Weight Management - Grapefruit


Grapefruits contain fat burning enzymes that are instrumental in promoting weight loss.


Research led by Dr. Ken Fujioka from the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic in California, has shown that people can lose weight eating grapefruits or drinking its juice. In a 12 week study, 100 participants ate what they normally ate each day and only slightly increased the amount of time they exercised. The participants were divided into three groups: one group drank 6 ounces of grapefruit juice before meals, one group ate half a grapefruit before meals, and one group did not eat or drink grapefruit juice. On average, the participants who ate grapefruit or drank grapefruit juice lost nearly 4 pounds, with many losing more than 10 pounds.


Grapefruits are a great way to improve your health and lose weight. They have been a popular diet food for a long time and research has proven they are effective at helping you lose weight and improve your health. However, grapefruit and its juice should not be taken while using certain prescriptions. If you're currently taking prescription medication check with your doctor before adding grapefruits to your diet.


Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/028309_grapefruit_weight_loss.html#ixzz2B4RY9Jf9





Pink Grapefruit is known to stop cravings for sweets. If one is struggling with weight loss, the essential oil of the pink grapefruit can be a very helpful addition to an aromatherapy routine. Pink Grapefruit is actually referred to as the "dieter's friend." It is also recommended for treating eating disorders and obesity issues.


Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/030838_pink_grapefruit_health_benefits.html#ixzz2B4UJw09I

More info: http://www.naturalnews.com/grapefruit.html

Learn more: http://nutrionomics.com/

"The Bait and Switch" ... How Big Pharma Repackages Vitamins as Expensive Drugs !!!

The latest prescription medicine called Niaspan, which targeted to men and women with coronary artery disease and high cholesterol:

“...works to raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in people with abnormal cholesterol levels ... also works to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.”
Plus, Niaspan can "reduce the risk of another heart attack in people who have high cholesterol and a history of heart attacks."

Now, here's the thing about Niaspan... it isn't really a drug! ... it's nothing more than time-released niacin (vitamin B3)!

You can get a month's supply (without a doctor's order) from most vitamin shops for under $7. Without a doubt, you're much better off going that route... because Abbott Labs will charge you a heck of a lot more ... this profitable hoax, earning hundreds of millions of dollars for the drug giant Abbott Labs!

Source: Dr. Allan Spreen - Nationally acclaimed as America’s “Nutrition Physician” - www.healthiertalk.com

"The Bait and Switch" ... How Big Pharma Repackages Fish Oil as Expensive Drugs !!!

You've probably heard of a prescription drug called Lovaza, right? I chuckled when I first heard about it, because it's nothing more than refined fish oil.
But it sounds snazzy and you need a doctor's prescription for it ... so it must work better than regular fish oil, right?

Wrong. It doesn't. It contains the same active ingredients you find in fish oil: EPA and DHA.
But Big Pharma managed to fool many, many Americans with this hoax.

In fact, this kind of con is hugely profitable for Big Pharma ... earning billions of dollars for the drug giant Abbott Labs.
For this reason alone, we will see more and more vitamins magically "repackaged" and sold as drugs.

Source: Dr. Allan Spreen - Nationally acclaimed as America’s “Nutrition Physician” - www.healthiertalk.com

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