Who should not eat grapefruit?
Although grapefruit is mostly water, it is a very healthy food, containing high levels of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
Health benefits of grapefruit
Grapefruit, like other fruits, provides good fiber, which can help support heart and gut health, maintain healthier cholesterol levels, control weight…
With its low calories, grapefruit can be a perfect choice when you want to lose weight. Additionally, it is packed with antioxidants and phytocompounds that have potential to fight cancer, according toAmerican Institute for Cancer Research.
Eating citrus fruits such as lemons, grapefruits, and oranges has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer (including pancreatic, stomach, gastrointestinal, and upper respiratory cancers) in some studies. This research suggests that adding a few servings of citrus fruits to your diet each week may reduce your risk of developing some types of cancer.
Grapefruit brings many health benefits. Photo: Toan Vu
Grapefruit is rich in antioxidants such as lycopene, which has anti-cancer properties and may reduce some side effects of cancer treatments. It has also been shown to increase blood flow to the brain.
In laboratory studies, grapefruit contains many nutrients and phytocompounds that have the potential to protect against cancer. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. In laboratory studies, it protects cell DNA by trapping free radicals, which helps to reproduce the antioxidant ability of vitamin E.
Vitamin C - an antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables such as grapefruit, oranges, bell peppers, broccoli - helps prevent the formation of cancer-causing nitrogen compounds. Diets rich in vitamin C have been linked to a reduced risk of stomach, colon, esophageal, bladder, breast and cervical cancers.
Grapefruit also has another benefit that other citrus fruits don’t have: it’s high in vitamin A, or beta carotene. One orange provides about 4% of your vitamin A needs, while a whole grapefruit can provide more than 50% of your needs. Vitamin A is important for eye health and, like vitamin C, supports the immune system, helping to protect against inflammation.
Additionally, one grapefruit provides about 10% of your daily potassium needs, along with 8% of your thiamine and folate needs.
Who should be careful when eating?grapefruit?
Johns Hopkins Medicine touts grapefruit as a healthy food rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. According to the organization, the citrus fruit is rich in fiber, which helps reduce inflammation and regulate blood pressure.
Grapefruit is good for the gut because its fiber content also promotes the growth of good bacteria. This fruit also helps control bad cholesterol. Moreover, eating it regularly can help in weight loss because it helps the body feel full for a longer time.
However, there are some groups that should avoid grapefruit. Specifically, people with digestive or stomach problems may be sensitive to the acid in grapefruit and other acidic foods, such as vinegar or tomato sauce.
In general, if you have GERD, eating highly acidic foods can increase your symptoms. But this is not a hard and fast rule.
So listen to your body and pay attention to how you feel after eating certain foods. If you find that grapefruit or any other food is giving you trouble, you should try cutting it out of your diet.
If you have certain problems like gastritis or ulcers, you may need to stay away from grapefruit and other acidic foods, caffeine, and spices, especially if you are severely ill, as these foods can irritate your stomach.
Tooth enamel erosion is another concern with grapefruit and other citrus fruits. However, for most people, eliminating grapefruit from their diet is unnecessary unless you have enamel problems or sensitive teeth. You would have to consume a lot of acidic foods over time to damage your teeth.
If you are taking medication, consult your doctor before eating grapefruit. Illustration: Adobestock
Grapefruit and medicine
Grapefruit can block an enzyme that helps your body break down certain medications. If this enzyme is blocked, too much of the drug can stay in your blood and build up, causing levels that are too high.
Some medications whose metabolism may be affected by grapefruit include atorvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin (cholesterol-lowering drugs), fexofenadine (an allergy medication), nifedipine (a blood pressure medication), cyclosporine (an immunosuppressant)…
Even within drug classes, though, there can be differences. One pill may interact with grapefruit and another, similar medication for the same condition may not. So it's best to check with your doctor if you're in doubt.
Similarly, according toMayo ClinicThe US Food and Drug Administration requires certain medications to carry a warning about eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking the medication.
Commonly prescribed medications that may interact with grapefruit include those that fight infections, lower cholesterol, treat high blood pressure, treat heart problems, treat seasonal allergies, control seizures, relieve motion sickness, treat erectile dysfunction, and suppress coughs.
To be safe, always talk to your doctor when you get a new prescription.