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Grapefruit is a powerful fruit.
Studies have shown that grapefruit can lower blood pressure, help**, reduce cellulite, beautify**, boost the immune system, and reduce the risk of stroke.
In addition, grapefruit even protects against cancer.
However, there are contraindications to the consumption of grapefruit, and people who take 7 types of drugs need to be careful about eating them.
Learn about grapefruit and the nutritional benefits of grapefruit
Grapefruit, so named for its grape-like clusters on the tree, belongs to the Rutaceae family and comes in varieties such as white, pink, and red.
Each variety has a strong sour or deliciously sweet flavor, so you're sure to find one that suits your taste, no matter what your preferences are.
Grapefruit is a hybrid of sweet orange and pomelo that originated in the West Indies around the 1700s.
In the early 1800s, they were exported to Florida, where grapefruit has been grown ever since.
Grapefruit is now grown primarily in Florida, Texas, California and Arizona, but the world's largest producer is China, which accounts for more than 50% of the global grapefruit production.
Grapefruit is rich in vitamins A and C, is a good dietary fiber**, and has a very low glycemic index of only 25.
The glycemic index measures how much a food raises blood sugar levels. The extremely low glycemic index makes grapefruit an excellent choice for diabetics.
Grapefruit also contains vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium, thiamine, and folate.
Perhaps most importantly, grapefruit contains potassium, which is essential for controlling heart rate and blood pressure, as well as maintaining normal fluid levels within our cells.
According to Johns Hopkins University Medicine, one grapefruit provides about 10% of our daily potassium needs.
In addition to lowering blood pressure, studies have shown that grapefruit can help**, reduce cellulite, beautify**, boost the immune system, reduce the risk of stroke, and even prevent cancer.
Grapefruit is used to lower blood pressure
High blood pressure is a serious condition and a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Grapefruit is effective in lowering blood pressure because it is high in potassium, which counteracts the adverse effects of sodium, a common cause of high blood pressure.
However, those who are already taking blood pressure medication must exercise caution when consuming grapefruit.
According to a 2023 report by the American Heart Association, nearly half of Americans over the age of 20 have high blood pressure, which is a staggering 12.2 billion people.
As we age, the likelihood of developing high blood pressure increases, with three-quarters of Americans over the age of 65 suffering from the condition.
Several studies support the use of grapefruit to lower blood pressure.
A randomized controlled trial published in the journal Metabolism divided 74 overweight adults into two groups.
One person was given half a grapefruit (three times a day) before each meal, and the control group did not eat any grapefruit.
In addition to lowering blood pressure, the grapefruit group also lost weight, reduced waist circumference, and lowered LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein).
Another study, published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, showed that grapefruit juice enhanced the systolic blood pressure-lowering effect of beetroot juice.
A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the evidence for the effect of grapefruit on body weight, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels.
The researchers' analysis found a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to the control group.
Grapefruit is high in potassium, and studies have shown that higher potassium intake can lower blood pressure.
A systematic review of 22 randomised controlled trials found that increasing potassium intake reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Interestingly, the study also found that as potassium intake increased, the risk of stroke also decreased.
Grapefruit and drug interactions People taking 7 types of drugs should be careful
A clinical trial published in The Lancet in 1991 showed that grapefruit greatly increased the absorption of certain drugs, meaning that regular doses could turn into potentially fatal overdoses.
The trial investigated the effects of grapefruit on two drugs for high blood pressure, felodipine and nifedipine.
Six men with borderline hypertension took 5 mg of felodipine with water, grapefruit, or orange juice.
When taken with grapefruit juice, felodipine bioavailability averaged 284% when taken with water (but between 164% and 469%).
When the same test was repeated with 10 mg of nifedipine, its bioavailability with grapefruit juice was 134% (range 108% to 169%) compared to water.
Canadian pharmacologist D**id Bailey, who received his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Toronto, first discovered this interaction.
According to an article in The Globe and Mail, Dr. Bailey stumbled upon the phenomenon in the late 1980s while studying the effects of alcohol on the blood pressure drug felodipine.
He wanted to use grapefruit juice to disguise the taste of alcohol.
Bailey later noticed that subjects who took the grapefruit juice drug had higher levels of the drug in their blood.
As he explored further, he discovered that grapefruit juice inhibited a specific enzyme called CYP3A4, which helps break down the drug in the gut, and as a result, the body absorbed more of the drug.
Dr. Bailey's findings were published in the Lancet article mentioned above, a phenomenon that came to be known as the "grapefruit effect."
Dr. Bailey's subsequent research revealed the interaction of grapefruit with about 100 oral medications, the effect of which either raises the level of the drug in the body to potentially dangerous levels or, on the contrary: reduces its effectiveness.
His pioneering work resulted in many medications having warning labels reminding patients not to take them with grapefruit juice.
The following medications can interact with grapefruit juice:
1) Statins for lowering cholesterol.
2) Medications for high blood pressure.
3) Organ transplant rejection drugs.
4) Anxiolytic medications.
5) Corticosteroids.
6) Drugs for arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).
7) Antihistamines.
While reactions vary from person to person, it is important to read the labels and instructions of the medication carefully to see if grapefruit juice will interact with them.
If you're unsure, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist and take your medication with water.
A paragraph from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)** analyzes the potential effects of grapefruit on certain medications.
Dr. Bailey passed away in August 2022 at the age of 77, leaving behind an important academic legacy.
His discovery has saved many lives and helped us further our understanding of the effects of grapefruit on a variety of medicines.
Conclusion
Despite its effects on some medications, grapefruit is a nutrient-dense superfood, rich in vitamin C, essential for the immune system, rich in antioxidants, fiber, and potassium.
If you're struggling with high blood pressure and want to try to lower your blood pressure naturally, adding grapefruit to your diet may help.
A good way to do this is to add it to salads, use it to make a tangy salsa, or cut the grapefruit in half and spoon it for a classic breakfast.
Remember, if you are taking medication for high blood pressure or any other medical condition, it is important to consult a doctor or pharmacist to ensure that grapefruit does not interact with your medications.