Fruit - Grapefruit

Grapefruit - Pomelo/Bitter Orange

Principle	Nutrient Value(100g)	Percentage of RDA
Energy	42 Kcal	2.3%
Carbohydrates	10.7 g	8%
Protein	0.77 g	1%
Total Fat	0.14 g	<1%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
DietaryFiber	1.70 g	4%
Vitamins
Folates	13 µg	3%
Niacin	0.204 mg	1.5%
Pantothenicacid	0.262 mg	5%
Pyridoxine	0.053 mg	4%
Riboflavin	0.031 mg	2.5%
Thiamin	0.043 mg	4%
Vitamin A	1150 IU	38%
Vitamin C	31.2 mg	52%
Vitamin E	0.13 mg	1%
Vitamin K	0 µg	0%
Electrolytes
Sodium	0 mg	0%
Potassium	135 mg	3%
Minerals
Calcium	22 mg	2%
Copper	0.032 mg	4%
Iron	0.08 mg	1%
Magnesium	9 mg	2%
Manganese	0.022 mg	1%
Phosphorus	18 mg	2.5%
Selenium	0.1 µg	0%
Zinc	0.07 mg	1%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß	686 µg	--
Crypto-xanthin-ß	73 µg	--
Lycopene	1419 µg	--

1. Lose Weight:Grapefruit is high in enzymes that burn fats, has high water content and has less sodium. A combination of these three characteristics make grapefruit a perfect food for increasing your body's metabolism. Try eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice every day and you will notice how quickly you lose those extra pounds
2. Improves Immunity:Grapefruits are rich in vitamin C, a vitamin that supports the immune system and a proven cold and flu fighter. Eating grapefruit or drinking its juice helps treat common cold and fever, dissolve gallstones, boost liver function and enhance immunity against infections. As grapefruit contains a dietary fiber called pectin, it thus promotes better digestion. In addition, if you want to have a healthy and smooth skin, try including grapefruit in your diet.
3. Combat Cancer:Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment that is responsible for the red color of grapefruit. It is a powerful agent against tumors and cancers as it acts as a scavenger of cancer-causing free radicals. Lycopene works best with vitamins A and C, which are also found in grapefruit.
   An antioxidant compound, called naringenin, is also found in grapefruit. Naringenin helps repair damaged DNA in prostate cancer cells. DNA repair contributes to cancer prevention as it impedes the reproduction of cancer cells.

1. Scrub:mix fresh pink grapefruit juice in a large mixing bowl with granulated white sugar, or raw brown sugar, whichever you prefer. Add a tablespoon or so of grated grapefruit zest, and enough Sweet Almond oil to give the entire mixture a scrub consistency. Once it’s all mixed pour it into individual containers. The Sweet Almond oil is a natural preservative, so you don’t need to store this in the fridge.
2. Toner:Just mix some Witch Hazel, which is available at the drugstore , with some fresh grapefruit juice and a drop of Tea Tree oil. Mix together well, and store in the refrigerator. This easy to make toner works on all skin types, and is especially great for people with combination skin.
3. Lip Balm: Melt down some beeswax to a liquid state. Add about a tablespoon of grated grapefruit zest and some grapefruit juice. Add some grated orange zest if you want the lip balm to have a scent with more depth to it. Pour the mixture into a small pot or container and let it set. Once it hardens you will have your own grapefruit lip balm.

1. Allergy to drugs:Research studies have shown that many drugs interact adversely with grapefruit. Certain compounds in the fruit called furanocoumarins may irreversibly inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 isoenzymes (3A4) in the liver and intestinal wall. This enzyme inhibition decreases pre-systemic metabolism of some drugs taken upto 72 hours after eating this fruit and could adversely increase their levels within the blood. This resulting increase in drug levels might lead to serious adverse effects and/or toxicity. It is therefore, strongly advised to consult your healthcare practitioner about consuming grapefruit juice if you are taking any kind of pharmaceutical drugs. Some commonly used drugs interacting adversely and should be avoided with grapefruit are:
1. amiodarone
2. astemizole (Hismanal)
3. atorvastatin (Lipitor)
4. budesonide (Entocort)
5. buspirone (BuSpar)
6. cisapride (Propulsid, Prepulsid)
7. lovastatin (Mevacor)
8. mifepristone (Mifeprex)
9. sildenafil (Viagra)
10. simvastatin (Zocor)
11. terfenadine (Seldane)

1. Season Available:Grapefruit season begins from September and lasts until December.
2. Selection:Choose fresh fruits featuring bright skin, firm yet yield to gentle pressure but recoil immediately. They should be devoid of any wrinkles on the skin, should be heavy for their size and impart sweet aroma. Avoid, overly soften fruits with spots as they tend to perish early.
3. Storing:At home, keep them at room temperature for few days or so. For extended storage, Place them inside the fruit/vegetable compartment of the home refrigerator where they keep well for up to three weeks. Prolonged cold storage at temperatures below 10 degrees celsius, however, may lead to chilling injury.
4. Serving:They can be eaten as in oranges. Cut the fruit horizontally into two halves and scoop out its sections using a spoon. Alternatively, make few vertical superficial scores on the skin and then peel it using fingers or with a knife. Remove rind and fibers and gently peel off membranes and seeds.
5. Safety:
6. Cooking Tips:
   1. Fruit sections are a great addition to green and fruit salads.
   2. Grapefruit juice can be a refreshing intra-day drink.
   3. It also used in the preparation of desserts, jams, marmalade, and jellies. Its peel can be candied as in oranges.