We all know and love grapefruit and are aware of its high nutritional value. As a larger member of the citrus family, it has high amounts of Vitamin C, as well as citric acid, natural sugars, and essential oils. It also has Vitamins A, B complex, E and K and minerals such as calcium and folic acid. Altogether it greatly helps us fight cancer and other diseases as well as the cold and ‘flu that we all get from time to time.
Despite its name, it’s not related to grapes, but got its name simply because it grows in clusters, like grapes. As its taste can be bitter and sour a little sugar or artificial sweetener can help us to enjoy its many health benefits. The white part under the skin, known as the albedo, contains the highest amount of valuable bioflavonoids and other anti-cancer agents, so be sure to keep it when you are peeling it.
Grapefruit is one of the citrus fruits, with others under the same classification including the orange, kumquat, lemon, lime, mandarin, tangerine and clementine, to name just a few. All citrus fruits contain acid, which give them their detoxifying qualities as acid is a natural and healthy organic element. If you like fruit but prefer those with less acid you can concentrate on apples, strawberries, raspberries, and peaches.
Our ancestors ate a diet of almost totally fresh and raw fruits and vegetables, eating meat occasionally when it was available. People with excessive weight can get to a healthy size and improve their overall condition by focusing on fruits and vegetables because they help to fill the stomach, greatly reducing the pangs of hunger that other, more restrictive, diets often create. They are dense and make our bodies work hard at digesting them and most are also low-calorie.
Grapefruit can be servedright in its skin, made easier if you use a grapefruit knife to separate the segments. Or it can be peeled and combined with other fruit such as oranges pieces, banana, pineapple or peaches. Add a little yogurt and pumpernickel bread and you have a complete and delicious fibre-filled breakfast or snack.
Here’s a breakfast recipe for grilled grapefruit that will soon become your favourite:
1 large grapefruit, halved
¼ cup old-fashioned oats
1 tbsp. brown sugar
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
Dash of salt
2 tsp. butter
Preheat broiler and set oven rack about six inches below heat. Remove seeds from the grapefruit and loosen sections, then place them on a baking dish, cut side up. Stir oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt together in a small bowl, adding butter and mashing with a fork, then spread over top of each grapefruit half. Cook under broiler until topping is golden brown.
Start today to experiment with this healthy fruit and incorporate it into your daily diet. With its many benefits, you’ll be glad you did.
