12 Super Benefits of Grapefruit for Health

Grapefruits are an acquired taste, which is very different from most of its sweet tasting citrus cousins like orange or sweet lime. However, there are many health benefits of grapefruits, making it a great choice for a healthy snack.

Some health benefits of grapefruits are:

1. Improves heart health -Helps to lower ‘bad’ cholesterol by lowering your triglycerides. Also, grapefruit is very rich in vitamin K, which is majorly responsible for a healthy heart.

2. Help improve your immune system by providing the body with adequate amount of vitamin A.

3. Control blood pressure as they significantly lower systolic blood pressure. In America alone, there are 70 million people who suffer from hypertension and so some drop in the blood pressure is also a good sign!

4. Helps improve body hydration - Have about 92% water content making grapefruits one of the superfoods that help to keep your body well-hydrated when eaten regularly.

5. Rich in nutrients - Grapefruit is packed with vitamins and minerals. It has low-calorie value but high nutritional value. The red and the yellow variants have additional anti-oxidants like beta-carotene and lycopene.

6. May lower blood sugar - Some studies have also shown that grapefruits may lower blood sugar level owing to its very low glycemic index (25) as opposed to that of watermelon (72) or banana (48)

7. Promotes wound healing. A single grapefruit has upto 120% of the daily requirement of vitamin C. Because of its rich vitamin C content, it helps accelerate the process of wound healing by tissue repair and new blood vessel formation.

8. Helps in weight loss - Grapefruit is very rich in fiber and so it helps in appetite control. The high amount of water and fiber in the fruit also relieves constipation and creates a sense a fullness, which in turns aids in weight loss

9. May reduce the risk of kidney stones - Kidney stones are the crystallized form of waste materials that remain in the kidney. Grapefruit has citric acid which prevents the binding of calcium, thus preventing the formation of calcium oxalate stones.

10. Acts as a liver cleanser - It contains various antioxidants and phytonutrients called limonoids which help in toxin excretion from the liver by making it more water-soluble

11. Slows down aging - Since it is rich in vitamin A & C and other antioxidants, it helps improve the elasticity of the skin by improving collagen formation. High elasticity of the skin reduces the fine lines and wrinkles, thus slowing down skin aging.

12. Promotes hair growth - Dry flaky scalp and dandruff slowly destroy hair follicles and thus reduce hair growth. The antioxidants in grapefruit have rich antibacterial properties which help clean up dandruff and improve hair follicular health.
13. Helps treat malaria - Grapefruit is a natural source of quinine, the alkaloid that has long been used to treat malaria. Thus, if consumed daily, grapefruit is an effective home remedy for malaria.
14. Helps treat indigestion - Grapefruit eases the irritation and heat that indigestion causes in the stomach and also helps facilitate bowel movements. This is due to the vegetative pulp and fiber present in grapefruit.
15. Promotes sleep - Due to the presence of a chemical called tryptophan, grapefruit juice can help you enjoy deep and restful sleep.

With these health benefits of grapefruit, it is a must to add this superfood to your diet. A word of caution though - it would be best to check with your doctor first, as grapefruit is known to interact with many other popular drugs and medications.

So do consult your doctor if you are on long-term medication for anything before beginning your health ride with grapefruit!