High fiber foods have been shown to improve the health of the digestive tract, reduce the risk of heart disease, and even to fight certain types of cancer. The only problem is that they can be somewhat bland and difficult to incorporate into the average diet. Foods like bran, oats, black beans, and lentils are not exactly selling out at supermarkets. But there is one popular food group that contains far more fiber than most people think. We are talking of course about fruit. In this article we will focus on one of the highest fiber fruits you can find,…

Image by Salim Virji via Flickr The grapefruit came to Texas in the early 19th century. It was brought from Florida by Spanish missionaries who stopped in South Texas near the Rio Grande Valley. What they did not and could not know is that this region is one of the best in the world for cultivating grapefruits. The reason for this is simple: South Texas has a subtropical climate and the grapefruit is a subtropical fruit. Still, it wasn't until 1893 that the first grapefruit crop was planted in Texas. It soon became a tasty and popular treat for the…

Image by Polifemus via Flickr The grapefruit was first planted in Jamaica back in the 1700s and did not find its way to the United States until the mid 1800s. Since then the U.S. has become the world's largest producer of grapefruit with China and South Africa in distant second and third place. Nearly one in five Americans enjoy this tart citrus juice every morning with their coffee and newspaper over breakfast. It's squeezed, sliced, topped with sugar, served for breakfast or a diet lunch. It's chock full of great vitamins and antioxidants that help prevent the formation of cancer…

Have you been thinking about using grapefruit or grapefruit juice to cook with? People who have health conditions like diabetes, or who choose to follow strict dietary guidelines that prevent them from eating foods like animal products, refined flour or processed sugar often look for ways to substitute ingredients that they can have for the ingredients in their favorite recipes that they can't have. Sometimes the items that are suggested as substitutes don't really taste the same in the dish, such as using applesauce as a binding agent instead of eggs. But using grapefruit juice, orange juice, or other citrus…

Image via Wikipedia Long before Texas became a state in 1845, it was clear that the land was rich in natural resources. In addition to impressive petroleum reserves, the land also had abundant mineral deposits. Not to mention the fact that the climate made it perfect for farming and growing a myriad of essential agricultural products. At present, Texas is home to more farms with more acreage than any other state in the nation. Today we are going to discuss the history of a relatively small but prosperous industry that owes its success to a natural accident. We are talking…

Image by Stefanvds(.com) via Flickr The United States produces nearly one half of the world's grapefruits on an annual basis. By comparison, America is responsible for only about 15 percent most other citrus fruits including the orange, lemon and lime. Why is the U.S. so dominant when it comes to this one particular fruit? Give us a moment to explain. Our story begins on the island of Barbados in 1750 where a Welsh explorer took note of a strange fruit. Years later, botanists would name it grapefruit for the way it grows in clusters, like grapes. They would also determine…

Making your own homemade grapefruit cleaning products costs pennies on the dollar and will leave your home just as clean as chemical based cleaners. Homemade grapefruit cleaning products are also much safer to use around pets and small children than chemical based cleaners. Think about it. Your kids and your pets are close to the floor and are the ones most affected by the fumes and residue from chemical based cleaners. Your pets will lick that residue off their paws everyday, and your kids will inhale it, get it on their hands and feet and their clothes. Making the switch…

Grapefruit extract is often added to commercial beauty products because it has a lot of great benefits for skin and it makes bath and beauty products smell delicious. But you can avoid the high price tag of designer bath and beauty products by making your own. Making your own grapefruit beauty products with fresh grapefruit, orange juice, and other citrus fruits is better for your skin and your wallet. If you think that because you haven't made bath and body products before you can't do it you're wrong. It's very easy to make your own all natural products at home.…