Last Updated on June 18, 2016 by Michael Brockbank
Perseonally, I’m not a big fan of grapefruits. I’ve never really like the taste of them, but have been growing a bit accustomed over the last few years. These large pink or red fruits have have a great deal to offer those looking to lose some weight. Full of vitamins and minerals, there is science behind why you would want to include one of these on a daily basis.
How Grapefruit Can Help You Lose Weight
In the 1980s, there was a “grapefruit diet” that was spreading around like wildfire. I remember my step-dad getting on this bandwagon as Mom would bring home all kinds of grapefruits. At the time, I really didn’t understand the aspects of the fruit. They tasted way too sour for my liking. Today, there is far more information surrounding why these may be an ideal addition to any diet.
1. Fat Oxidation
Fat oxidation is the process the body performs on fat cells to create energy. Studies have shown that those who regularly ate grapefruits over the span of 12 weeks lost a significant amount of weight from doing nothing more than adding a bit of grapefruit to their daily routines. This has potential to demonstrate that these orange sweet-and-sour fruits may be excellent for boosting fat oxidation.
2. Boosts Immune System
Although grapefruits don’t have the same potential for vitamin C as an orange, they do contribute almost as much for boosting the immune system. High in vitamin A and C, your body can be better prepared to defend against various forms of illnesses. Because of the levels of vitamins and antioxidants, grapefruits can also contribute to preventing various diseases by scrubbing the blood of free radicals. This is also ideal for preventing cancerous growths.
3. Improving Bone Maintenance
On average, humans stop creating bone mass at the age of 30. The vitamins and calcium used after this point is for maintaining the bone mass. Vitamins A and C contribute to this maintenance and can prevent afflictions such as osteoporosis. This also includes knitting and repairing breaks and fractures. When used in conjunction with calcium-rich products, it could vastly help the skeletal structure from suffering some of the most common ailments of those in their senior years.
4. Improves Emotional States
Here’s something you probably never thought grapefruits could help. The small amounts of vitamin B6 in grapefruits will contribute to improving your mental stability. Various hormones, serotonin and melatonin are all affected by this component. Although eating a grapefruit probably won’t make you the happiest person on the planet, it will contribute to boosting your overall moods.
5. Helps Impact Blood Pressure
Grapefruits are capable of assisting in the regulation of your heart beat as well as your blood pressure through potassium. Many experts believe human adults should receive more than 4,500mg in any given day. In fact, only 2% of the population in the United States actually receives this amount. Although there are fruits that have a higher concentration of potassium when compared to grapefruits, this citrus food has potential to help those with high blood pressure.
Grapefruits may be one of those required tastes, but they do have potential to offer a great deal of good for the human body. Before you write off this citrus product as too-sour, try eating it in recipes that can take some of the taste out of the experience. For example, blend it up with pomegranate to make one hell of a smoothie.