Why grapefruit is harmful for women: refutation of rumors, true benefits of the fruit

Description of the fruit

Grapefruit is a natural hybrid of an orange and a pomelo. It grows on evergreen trees and belongs to the genus of citrus fruits of the rue family. This fruit was first discovered on the island of Barbados and was called the “forbidden fruit.” Citrus gets its modern name from how it grows on a tree. The fruits grow side by side and resemble a giant bunch of grapes.

Today there are about 20 types of fruits. Conventionally, they can be divided into 3 main color groups: white, pink and red grapefruit. Its structure is very similar to an orange, but the taste is more sour and bitter, and the fruits are also slightly larger. Weight can reach 500-600 grams. The skin of the fruit is thick. If it has a reddish tint, this fruit tastes sweeter.

Vitamins and minerals

Grapefruit contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals. It is even called the “vitamin bomb”. It contains more vitamin C than lemon and 100 grams of citrus provides a daily dose of ascorbic acid. It's no secret that vitamin C is considered a natural antioxidant. It strengthens the immune system, prevents skin aging, helps restore cells in bones, teeth, tissues, and also reduces the risk of cancer cell formation. In addition to ascorbic acid, vitamin C, there are also the following vitamins in grapefruit: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamins B, A, P.

The fruit also contains nicotinic acid, beta-carotene, retinol, riboflavin, folic and panthenic acid, pyridoxine, various micro- and macroelements. Another important component is naringin, which is part of the white film of the fruit. This is what gives the hybrid a bitter taste. But it also forces the gastrointestinal tract to work at full capacity and cleanses it. Grapefruit seeds contain bactericidal substances that help in the treatment of skin diseases. The fruit is also rich in fiber and pectin.

The harm of grapefruit and how to avoid it

Grapefruit can cause unwanted reactions in the body if consumed incorrectly. The recommended amount for healthy people is no more than half a fruit per day or 1 glass of juice . How and when can grapefruit be harmful?

Contraindications

Certain categories of people are forced to stop eating grapefruits. These include:

patients with high acidity of gastric juice;
people with hypertension, heart disease, liver disease;
women taking oral contraceptives;
people who are forced to take medications (their list is quite wide: these are antihistamines, statins).

The problem of interaction between grapefruits and certain medications requires close attention.

This citrus is incompatible with many drugs, and the effect of grapefruit can be diametrically opposite .

The effectiveness of some drugs decreases, while others increase to such an extent that an overdose occurs.

Regular consumption of the pulp or juice of this fruit reduces the effectiveness of antidepressants and contraceptives, but increases the concentration of cardiovascular drugs in the blood to a dangerous limit.

The culprit is a substance contained in grapefruit pulp - furanocoumarin .

It affects the functioning of the liver and changes the rate at which the drug is eliminated from the body. No other type of citrus fruit contains furanocoumarin.

The severity of the health consequences can be gauged by how the problem is treated in the United States. Here, each new drug is tested for compatibility with grapefruit juice.

Learn about the benefits of grapefruit and the effectiveness of the grapefruit diet from the video:

For allergy sufferers

Unlike other types of citrus fruits, grapefruit relatively rarely causes allergies . In some cases, an undesirable reaction may occur, which usually manifests itself in the form of skin rashes or allergic rhinitis.

People prone to allergies should try citrus little by little and monitor how they feel for several days.

For pregnant women and children

In the absence of allergies and other contraindications, grapefruit will only be beneficial for women in an “interesting position.”

It contains potassium, calcium, folic acid, which are necessary for the proper development of the fetus.

Magnesium will help cope with mood swings and irritability, and organic acids will help with attacks of toxicosis (cherries also have this beneficial property).

The allowed amount for pregnant women is half a fetus per day.

Due to the immaturity of their digestive system, children and infants are more at risk of allergic reactions than middle-aged and older children.

Therefore, grapefruits should not be given to newborns and children under 3 years of age .

Other hazards

Particular care must be taken when using grapefruit zest, which is included in some dishes and folk remedies.

Citrus producers strive to protect their trees from pests and diseases, so they spray them with chemicals. The result of such processing is the accumulation of harmful substances in the peel of the fruit.

After harvesting ripe fruits, they are coated with special compounds to give them a more attractive appearance. The skin of such fruits becomes glossy.

This procedure also negatively affects the usefulness of the zest . Therefore, it is preferable to choose fruits with matte skin.

Scientists from Southern California have hypothesized that daily moderate consumption of grapefruit increases the likelihood of developing breast cancer in women by 30%.

The results of the study cannot be considered objective, because other factors that provoke the occurrence of oncology were not taken into account during the observation.

Because of this, the theory of the influence of grapefruit on the occurrence of breast cancer has not yet found widespread acceptance.

What are the benefits of grapefruit for the body?

In the modern world, grapefruit is widely used:

In cosmetology. Masks, creams, shampoos, and anti-cellulite products are made from it.
In perfumery. Essential oils that are added to perfumes provide aromatherapy, and they also use a few drops on bread to suppress hunger.
In cooking. Grapefruit is used to make preserves, jams, syrups and simply canned.
It is also used to make drinks, tinctures, cocktails, and juices.

Grapefruit, the benefits and harms of which make you study its properties very carefully, so as not to harm your body, but rather to extract the maximum benefit necessary for a person. Grapefruit brings the greatest benefit if eaten fresh. Moreover, the pulp contains most of the beneficial substances, and in addition it is also very pleasant to the taste. So, what are the benefits of this citrus:

Thanks to many vitamins and microelements, grapefruit strengthens our immunity and tones the body.
This fruit is recommended for physical and mental stress. He also struggles with depression.
Has antiseptic and antifungal properties. It is also an antioxidant.
Improves the functioning of the digestive system due to fiber and naringin. It also speeds up the metabolic process in the body and metabolism.
Strengthens the walls of the circulatory system, normalizes the functioning of the heart and blood circulation.
Helps with bleeding gums.
Lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, which makes it beneficial for diabetes, and also minimizes the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Useful for people with low stomach acidity, as it increases it.
Lowers blood pressure.
Removes excess fluid from the body, cleanses of waste and toxins.
Normalizes liver function and even protects it from cancer cells and the hepatitis virus.
On the skin it can get rid of unwanted pigmentation and freckles.
The fruit is beneficial for hangovers. Just drink a glass of freshly squeezed juice and you will immediately feel better.
Grapefruit brings the same benefits to children as it does to adults. The only thing you need to make sure is that you are not allergic to citrus fruits. A few slices of fruit a day will protect the baby from colds, improve mood and increase appetite.

What are the benefits of grapefruit for women?

For women, the benefits of grapefruit are simply invaluable. It can be considered a fruit of beauty.

Citrus helps with weight loss, consumed fresh, but always with white veins, because they contain the greatest benefits.
It contains many antioxidants that slow down the aging process of the skin and smooth out wrinkles.
Using cosmetics that contain grapefruit, you can even out your complexion. Or you can make useful masks yourself. To do this, soak gauze in grapefruit juice, place it on your face and wait until it dries completely. Repeat every other day. If grapefruit juice is added to clay masks, it helps get rid of rashes. And by making lotion from the fruit, you can get rid of oily sheen.
The miracle fruit also helps fight the hated cellulite. To do this, you need to rub the fruit juice daily with a hard brush into problem areas. The course is carried out for 2 weeks, and after a week repeat again.
Crushed grapefruit pulp benefits hair and nails. It strengthens them if you make masks on your hair and simply rub them into your nails.
The aroma of essential oils is beneficial in the fight against insomnia and calms the nervous system.
The benefits of grapefruit for women also provide a diuretic effect, which helps remove excess fluid from the body and also relieves swelling.
During menopause, the fruit also has great benefits. It helps alleviate the condition and reduces symptoms.
During pregnancy, citrus benefits the fetus itself, helping it develop, forming bone tissue and the nervous system. It also reduces the symptoms of toxicosis.

What else is grapefruit used for?

In fact, grapefruit is useful not only for weight loss or diabetes. This fruit is used in various aspects of human life.

As it turns out, this fruit is useful not only for internal use, it is also great for making a variety of cosmetics .
Grapefruit is actively used in the culinary field. There this fruit can serve as an excellent sauce for meat .
Grapefruit zest will be useful to relieve heartburn . If this problem often bothers you, dry the peels of this fruit, but grate them first. Then, if heartburn occurs, you need to take one teaspoon of such chips per day. The zest will relieve you from stomach pain.
The beneficial properties of this citrus are endless; it contains pectin , which lowers cholesterol levels , and therefore this fruit is often simply irreplaceable for people who have problems with the cardiovascular system.
Another extremely beneficial property of grapefruit will make many representatives of the fair sex buy this fruit - relief from menopause .

These are some very unusual ways to use grapefruit in life.

Having tried to use this fruit for one of these purposes, you will see for yourself how tasty and healthy it is.

Why is grapefruit dangerous?

Unfortunately, citrus is not perfect. There are contraindications to its use. There are cases where grapefruit can cause great harm. To prevent this from happening, you need to be careful and if at least one of the following points is present, you will have to refuse the fruit.

If a person has a predisposition to increased stomach acidity, then the fruit should not be consumed. It has the ability to increase it even more.
Allergic reaction to citrus fruits.
Stomach ulcers can only get worse if you eat grapefruits. The same applies to diseases such as hepatitis, gastritis, cholecystitis, colitis, nephritis, enteritis. The fruit has the ability to interact with medications. It contains the substance furanocoumarin. It can neutralize the effect of some, and it will not help with the disease, while on the contrary, it can enhance the effect of others, which will lead to an overdose. For example, many oral contraceptives are neutralized. Therefore, before purchasing medications, you should consult your doctor to see if they interact with grapefruit if it is present in your diet.
If you have arterial hypotension and are taking medications, then the insidious fruit can neutralize their effects.
Although the fruit helps with bleeding gums, it has a detrimental effect on tooth enamel. Therefore, lovers of this fruit should rinse their mouths after eating citrus, and it is better to drink the juice through a straw.
If you have high blood pressure while taking medications, you should also avoid the fruit, as this is fraught with side effects.
If you have liver problems, grapefruit can be consumed, but check with your doctor to see if it irritates the mucous membranes.
In America, a study was conducted that showed that women during menopause and exposed to high sun radiation increase the incidence of cancer by 35% by eating more than a quarter of a fruit per day.

In conclusion, I would like to conclude that the benefits of every slice, seed and zest of this magical fruit are enormous. But only if there are no contraindications to its use.

How to choose grapefruit

Like all overseas fruits, grapefruit undergoes special treatment during transportation, whether we like it or not. As a rule, all harmful elements settle in the peel, therefore:

Avoid fruits that are too regular and shiny, just think about how this effect is achieved!
The fruit must be without visible damage, relatively heavy in weight
Wash thoroughly before use!

Whether you should consume this extraordinary fruit or not is up to you to decide. You should not look for a panacea for all diseases, and rush into all seriousness without studying the possible effects on the body.

One way or another, the conclusion suggests itself: everything needs moderation; by enjoying a juicy, aromatic grapefruit for dessert once a week, you will only strengthen your immunity and lift your spirits.