Perhaps it is not on the list of favorite fruits of many, but due to its properties, the grapefruit should be immediately included in it. This citrus fruit with a particular taste between acid and bitter, has great benefits for health and beauty, but also certain contraindications that you must take into account. Therefore, let’s see what the incredible properties of grapefruit are and how you can take advantage of them. Join us!
The grapefruit or grapefruit is a well-known fruit worldwide, it belongs to the citrus group and its appearance is similar to that of an orange, only that it is a little larger. It contains fewer calories than the rest of its group, which makes it one of the best among the citrus family. It contains an immense amount of proteins such as fiber, carbohydrates, sodium, vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C and E), flavonoids: naringin, limonoids, pectin, salicylic acid and lycopene, make it a very beneficial fruit. for your general well-being.
The most recommended way to obtain each of the grapefruit properties is preparing it in the form of juices. Despite this, it can also be consumed by extracting the pulp or including it in a dessert or meal. One of the most outstanding benefits of grapefruit is its great ability to accelerate metabolism and help burn fat accumulated in different parts of the body. It should be noted that grapefruit does not completely reduce fat, for this it is necessary to lead a healthy life. . It is an alternative to include it in the process of losing weight by combining it with other fruits. What a healthier way to lose weight!
Because it contains high levels of antioxidants, if you suffer from high bad cholesterol, this fruit helps regulate it. Another very good advantage of grapefruit is that it is extremely easy to digest, it does not cause heaviness. On the other hand, the heart, being one of the main and most important organs of the body, must be very well taken care of and this is where the grapefruit does its job; This fruit helps to strengthen this organ, due to its antioxidants, as well as the circulatory system. Its properties help speed up the metabolic rate and its nutrients do a good job of controlling blood sugar.
Grapefruit for skin and hair
This fruit has nutrients that strengthen the health of the skin, its texture and even its color. Thanks to its high content of vitamin C, it stimulates the production of collagen, therefore this fruit helps to rejuvenate the skin, thanks to the fact that it improves its appearance by eliminating spots and reducing wrinkles.
Grapefruit can work as a powerful skin exfoliant, helping to achieve well-nourished and radiant skin, thanks to its antioxidants and vitamins. To prepare a mask to exfoliate the skin with grapefruit, we will need the juice of a large grapefruit, half a cup of oatmeal flakes, half a cup of natural yogurt and two tablespoons of honey. We integrate all the ingredients and apply with gentle massages on the clean face, let it act for 20 minutes. Rinse with plenty of lukewarm and apply a moisturizing cream.
You can also prepare an excellent mask with grapefruit to lighten the skin and delay aging, for this we will need 1 tablespoon of orange juice, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of grapefruit juice, 1 tablespoon of carrot juice and 1 tablespoon of natural yogurt. We mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and apply on the face with the help of a brush or brush. Let stand for 15 minutes and remove with plenty of water.
For the hair, the antioxidant properties and vitamin C present in grapefruit, strengthens, nourishes and moisturizes it, in addition, it gives it shine. One of the best ways to use grapefruit for hair is as an essential oil, which should be applied to the scalp with gentle massages to activate circulation and promote its benefits, leave on for 20 minutes and rinse with plenty of water.
Contraindications of grapefruit
But as always, although it has many points in its favor, there are some contraindications in the consumption of grapefruit. Well, it turns out that this nutritious and low-calorie fruit interacts with 85 medications, which can cause a series of adverse effects. Grapefruit contains chemical compounds called furanocoumarins that alter genes and proteins responsible for metabolism. These compounds cause the processing of some drugs to be very slow or blocked, causing more of these drugs in the blood and therefore more toxicity in the body. This can vary a lot from one person to another, so the same amount of grapefruit can affect some more than others.
A glass of grapefruit juice from grapefruit can decrease the absorption of medications by up to 50%. According to the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA) some of the drugs that should not be combined with grapefruit are some cholesterol-lowering statins, some drugs that treat high blood pressure, some anti-anxiety drugs, some antihistamines, among others. They also recommend that when a medication is prescribed, the doctor should be asked whether or how much grapefruit can be consumed.
Over time, fruits continue to be the most effective medicines worldwide, due to their high level of nutrients. For most nutritionists and doctors from other branches of medicine, it is one of the best treatments when it comes to combating any deficiency and grapefruit, thanks to its incredible properties, is an excellent fruit option to stay healthy.
This article is informative and is not intended to serve as a diagnosis, prescription or treatment of any type of ailment. This information does not replace the consultation of a doctor, specialist or health professional.