Benefits Grapefruit: 7 important health properties

The beneficial properties of grapefruit has long been known, many of them are scientifically proven. Most often it is mentioned in the diet diet, as it promotes weight loss by speeding up the metabolism.

Also Grapefruit - an excellent antioxidant. The pink and red varieties contain carotenoids - lycopene and beta-carotene, which are effective in the fight against various diseases.

The amount of nutrients in grapefruit impressive: 100 grams of 42 kkkal, wherein it contains 1 g of protein, 31 mg of vitamin C (50% of the recommended daily requirement), 13 micrograms of folic acid, 135 mg potassium, 22 mg calcium, 9 mg magnesium, 2 grams of fiber and vitamins B1 and B6.

Here are the most well-known beneficial properties of grapefruit:

It helps to get rid of the extra kilos

As it turned out during the study, conducted by the Research Centre of clinical nutrition at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego (USA), people in the diet which was a grapefruit or its juice, lost forest.

The researchers divided 90 volunteers into three groups. First he ate half a grapefruit before each meal three times a day. Second - I drank grapefruit juice. The third was not grapefruit diet group. In the end it turned out that the participants in the first two groups had lost an average of 1.5 kg over 12 weeks, but in the third group, the weight of the subjects remained the same. Also, people in the "grapefruit," the lower level groups of insulin in the blood.

It increases insulin sensitivity

Grapefruit contains antioxidants such as naringenin. They improve insulin sensitivity, helping to maintain a healthy weight. Naringenin, according to research, it stimulates the liver to the "burning" of fat. Grapefruit helps to lower insulin levels as effectively as the antidiabetic agent metformin.

Controls appetite

When high sensitivity to insulin, the body itself controls blood sugar levels. Its cells become more susceptible to substances coming from food. As a result, all that we eat more efficiently used as "fuel" for energy. That is, the fruit helps to control appetite.

Good digestion

Grapefruit helps to maintain bile formation, and it contains fiber improves digestion. It is effective in case of problems with stool (constipation).

It eliminates the "bad" cholesterol

The grapefruit pectin is present which allows to excrete cholesterol. According to the study, conducted at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the use of only one red grapefruit daily for 30 days reduces the LDL (low density lipoproteins) by 20.3% and triglycerides - by 17.2%. The use of the same doses of yellow grapefruit lowers LDL by 10.7%, and triglycerides - by 5.6%.

Cardiovascular disease

Thanks to antioxidants and potassium, grapefruit helps maintain vascular dilation, regulates blood sugar levels, promotes weight loss. Since the fruit lowers LDL and triglyceride levels, it is useful for both vascular and cardiac (prevention of atherosclerosis and heart disease).

Support immunity.

Due to the significant content of vitamin C and other antioxidants, grapefruit helps the immune system fight infections. It reduces the risk of kidney stones and liver, is effective for the prevention of hepatitis C virus

Laboratory tests show that naringenin can stop the spread of hepatitis C virus by 80%. Also, there is evidence of anti-cancer properties of grapefruit.
Despite all the positive properties of grapefruit, known cases of its interaction with the 85 drugs. In 43 cases, they can have potentially serious consequences, according to the article, "Journal of the Canadian Medical Association." If you are taking medication, consult with your doctor before including grapefruit in your diet.