5 Reasons to Buy Grapefruit for Your Health

A relatively recent addition to the citrus family of fruits, the grapefruit was first spotted on the island of Barbados in 1750. It came to America a few decades later, where it is was deemed too sour for public consumption. However, when its name was linked to a popular diet fad–the Grapefruit or Hollywood Diet–it quickly became an essential breakfast fruit for dieters. Unfortunately, most folks still consider the grapefruit a diet food, even though that is just one of its many benefits. Here's a brief list:

1. Curbs Hunger

We would be remiss if we did not mention the fact that the grapefruit is thought of as a diet food because it actually reduces your appetite when eaten before major meals.

2. Good for Your Heart

Numerous studies have shown that a grapefruit a day can keep the cardiologists away. According to a recent report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, one daily serving of grapefruit can lower “bad” LDL cholesterol levels by 15.5 percent and triglycerides by a whopping 27 percent!

3. Boosts Your Immune System

Just like it more famous cousin, the orange, the grapefruit contains huge doses of vitamin C. This essential nutrient is famous for fighting colds and keeping us healthy during cold and flu season. Because they contain higher levels of antioxidants, most experts recommend the pink and red grapefruit varieties over the white ones.

4. May be Good for Your Skin

There are plenty of medical professionals that think that antioxidants actually help slow the aging process; since they fight inimical free radicals, whose main job is destroying healthy cells. There is also some evidence that vitamin C, a mild acid, helps limit age spots and other skin discoloration by keeping skin pigment in check. To do so, however, you will need to buy grapefruit and rub it on your skin every now and then.Just be careful not to overdo it, since grapefruit is acidic and can irritate your epidermis.

5. Improves Digestive Health

Why do so many Americans suffer from constipation and other digestive issues? One simple explanation is that we aren't eating enough fiber. This indigestible portion of plant products helps promote regular bowel movements, which removes toxins and waste from our systems. It is no wonder, then, that people who follow high-fiber diets have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer.

With more than four grams of dietary fiber, the average grapefruit has about 16 percent of the fiber you need (but probably aren't getting) each day! This alone is a good enough reason to buy grapefruit on your next trip to the market.

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