The history of the grapefruit can be traced back to 17th century Jamaica. At the time, there was only one variety of the new fruit, the white grapefruit. Though the exact date has not been recorded, by the time the grapefruit reached America in 1823, there were two kinds of grapefruit, the pink and the white.

More than a century later, the pair was joined by a third type of grapefruit, the red Texas Grapefruit. Of course, the white grapefruit is the original and the others are nothing more than simple mutations. However, nature works in mysterious ways, and these mutations appear to have a number of health benefits that the original cannot provide. In this article we are going to discuss the red Texas grapefruit and the advantages it holds over its predecessors.

In recent years, the public has heard a lot about so-called super foods. If you somehow missed the tutorial, a super food is really nothing more than a food that provides a bevy of supposed health benefits. More often than not, these foods are high in antioxidants and micro nutrients.

An antioxidant is a molecule that wages war against inimical free radicals that roam around the body damaging healthy cells. While the research is far from conclusive, most medical professionals recommended foods that are high in antioxidants because they may lower the risk of certain kinds of cancer. There are even those who believe that antioxidants may, in fact, slow the aging process a bit, but there is absolutely no evidence to corroborate this claim.

Laboratory tests have been completed on both the white and red grapefruit and conclusion is that they are nearly the same. The only significant difference is that the red Texas grapefruit does contain more bio-active compounds as well as poly phenols.  These compounds are believed to have a positive effect on cholesterol and blood levels.   

The red Texas grapefruit also contains a form of soluble dietary fiber known as pectin. This pectin has been shown to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis in a several laboratory tests. While scientists cannot seem to agree as to why it works, studies have shown that pectin can actually narrow the arteries leading to the heart, which prevents blockages and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Both red and white grapefruit have been shown to reduce the levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol, but the Texas grapefruit proved twice as effective at lowering triglycerides. In short, all grapefruit varieties are heart healthy,as are other citrus fruits like oranges and tangerines, but only red grapefruit can fight heart disease in a number of different ways.