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4 Health Benefits of Grapefruit
Share4 Health Benefits of Grapefruit
If you like to start the day with grapefruit, you’re doing your health a big favour. The citrus fruit is packed with vitamins and flavonoids, making it a go-to for all round health. Here are 4 health benefits of grapefruit to whet your appetite:1. Keeps your heart healthy
Grapefruit gets big points for keeping your ticker healthy. A 2012 study by the American Heart Association found the flavonoids in grapefruit (and other citrus fruits) lowers the risk of stroke in women by 19 percent.Other research has highlighted the potent mix of fibre, vitamin C, potassium, lycopene and choline in grapefruit as helpful in maintaining a healthy heart.
2. Boosts immunity
Thanks to its incredibly high vitamin C levels, grapefruit is also a winner when it comes to immunity. This means is can help ease cold symptoms, control allergies, and maintain healthy immune function.3. Kick-starts metabolism
Ever heard of someone scoffing grapefruit to lose weight? While crash dieting is never a good idea, grapefruit has been shown to aid weight loss. A 2006 study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, found people who ate half a grapefruit before a meal (without doing anything else to their diet) lost around 3.5 pounds (around 1.6kg) in 12 weeks.Why? It’s said to be down to the enzymes in grapefruit, as well as its high water and low sodium levels which – when combined with the fibre – keeps you fuller for longer, so you’re more likely to eat less at each meal.
4. Improves your skin
Who doesn’t love a natural beauty product? High in vitamin C, grapefruit can help fight damage caused by the sun and other environmental factors. It also helps reduce wrinkles and improve the look and feel of the skin (whether you eat it, or pop it on your face).That being said, new research suggests eating high amounts of citrus could cause sun sensitivity. So, as always, cover up when you’re out and about.
Keen to know more about grapefruit – and how to add it to your diet? Ask a dietitian or nutritionist near you.
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