Ways to Eat Grapefruit for your Health
Most people know the grapefruit as one of the most popular breakfast foods on the planet. But few are aware that it almost didn't make it in America. At present, the US is the global leader in grapefruit production with more than one-third of the world market. But in the early 20th century, it was little more than a failed crop from Florida.
When the grapefruit arrived in the Sunshine State in 1821, it was faced with the unenviable challenge of going head-to-head with the mighty orange. The orange had been popular in Florida for centuries and was the top crop in a burgeoning citrus industry. The grapefruit, on the other hand, was seen as little more than a novelty fruit.
After flopping in Florida, the grapefruit found its way to Texas, a state that was in desperate need of new agricultural products. Though it took some time, nearly half a century, the grapefruit finally made it in the Lone Star State. In fact, it was one of the most popular fruits in the country during the 1930s and 40s. What are the best ways to eat grapefruit?
For maximum health benefits, we recommend consuming the grapefruit fresh. Though grapefruit juice is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and high in vitamin C, it does not contain any fiber. Dietary fiber is only found in fresh grapefruit.
As you may know, fiber is important because it improves digestive health by promoting regular bowel movements. There is also ample evidence to suggest that high fiber diets reduce the risk of heart disease and certain type of cancer, particularly colon and prostate cancer.
There is, however, a catch. To receive the full six grams of fiber per serving, you must consume the walls that divide each segment. Now, these walls are entirely edible and they are even quite tasty, at least in our opinion. But they can also be tough and chewy. If you choose to discard the wall and focus on the fresh fruit, you will still get two grams of fiber. So it's not a total loss! Our advice to you is to try the walls for a few days. You might actually like them.
The grapefruit is also an excellent source of nutrients known as bioflavonoids. When ingested, bioflavonoids work as antioxidants and wage war against harmful free radicals, which may damage perfectly healthy cells. Many doctors believe that this damage may increase the risk of certain types of cancers. Others claim that free radicals can also expedite the aging process.
One specific type of flavonoid known as neringenin has been shown to encourage healthy weight loss in laboratory tests. It does this by reprogramming the liver and instructing it to burn excess fats, rather than storing them in the body. So, ways to eat grapefruit may actually help you lose your love handles.
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