Grapefruit essential oil has limonene, a compound that can kill or stop many microorganisms. But early studies show it could have these effects: There's not much research into the possible benefits of grapefruit oil. It's long been used in skin ointments and creams, as well as in aromatherapy. It's thought to have many medicinal benefits, from lowering blood pressure and providing stress relief to protecting skin. Grapefruit essential oil is made from the peel of a grapefruit. Make a quinoa bowl with grapefruit and avocado.Add grapefruits to a salad as a healthy alternative to salad dressing.Make a grapefruit salsa as topping for fish.Broil grapefruit halves topped with brown sugar and cinnamon.Freeze grapefruit segments and add them to smoothies.Try these other options for adding grapefruits to your diet: Depending on the variety, the grapefruit might taste sour, so some people sprinkle a little sugar on top. Use a sharp knife to separate the segments from the white pith and membranes, and then scoop the segments out with a spoon. To eat a fresh grapefruit, cut it in half (the inside will resemble an orange).

Talk to your doctor to see if you need to avoid grapefruit because of your medications.

They include benzodiazepines, some serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as sertraline (Zoloft), and buspirone (BuSpar) that treats both anxiety and depression. Some drugs for depression and anxiety also interact with grapefruits. Grapefruits have a stronger effect on some types of statins than others. Too much statin in your blood can cause mild side effects. Statins are medicines you take to lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. Grapefruit juice may block how CYP3A4 works, causing more of these medicines to reach your bloodstream and last longer in your body. Your body breaks down these medicines in your small intestine with an enzyme called CYP3A4. Other drugs, including some antianxiety drugs, antihistamines, and organ-transplant rejection drugs also might not work properly. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can change the way some medications work, including prescription drugs that treat high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis. They're full of fiber and low in calories. There's a reason why grapefruits are sometimes called superfoods. But you'd have to eat or drink a lot of grapefruits every day, so a citric acid supplement might be a better option. The citrate (citric acid) in grapefruits may help stop some types of kidney stones from coming back. Several things can cause painful kidney stones, from your diet to your family history. A high-fiber diet might help you manage your weight, which could help prevent more serious medical problems such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Eating even half of one can slow down digestion and help you feel full. They also have vitamin A, which helps maintain your immune function.Īn average-size grapefruit has about 4 grams of fiber. Like many citrus fruits, grapefruits are loaded with vitamin C, which helps support your body's immune system. They have other potential health benefits, too, such as: They're popular as a breakfast food and as part of weight loss diets. Grapefruits are full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients and low in calories. Grapefruits are likely native to Barbados. More than 20 varieties of grapefruits are grown in the U.S., mostly in Florida, Texas, and California. Grapefruits are very acidic and usually slightly sweet but sour. The flesh inside can be different colors, too, including pink and yellow to dark red. They're about the size of softballs and have bright yellow to pinkish peels, depending on the variety. Grapefruits are citrus fruits that grow on trees in subtropical climates. One medium grapefruit has 100% of your daily requirement of vitamin C.

Grapefruit nutrition 411