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Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas

July 2, 2013 by Nancy Lopez-McHugh 55 Comments

Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas by @Spicie Foodie | #grapefruit #healthbenefits #recipes

The other day at the market I found this gorgeous giant grapefruit. What stood out most was that vibrant orange and reddish hue on the skin. (Typically the grapefruits I find here are either a pale orange, almost borderline yellow tone, or the occasional green colored ones.) The large size is another factor that made this one stand out, it was nearly the same size of a Pomelo fruit. Upon picking it up the sweet smell confirmed it was indeed a grapefruit. Unfortunately the store’s sign didn’t specify neither the origin or variety of grapefruit, regardless it came home with me.

Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas by @Spicie Foodie | #grapefruit #healthbenefits #recipes

The near perfection of this fruit told me I must photograph it and share it with you. Not knowing what to expect when I peeled it, I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful, bright, pink color inside. The taste was sweeter than normal grapefruits, and each segment was so juicy that each bite was difficult to keep from running down my fingers and hands.

Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas by @Spicie Foodie | #grapefruit #healthbenefits #recipes

When I eat grapefruit I like to limit the bitterness by eating as little of the pit and skin as possible. I first peel it, pull away a little segment, then peel away the skin in the segment to reveal the juicy bits inside. The taste is sweeter with a hint of typical grapefruit tartness.

Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas by @Spicie Foodie | #grapefruit #healthbenefits #recipes

After I ate nearly halve of this giant grapefruit I took to the internet to do some research. It turns out this grapefruit variety is called Ruby Red. Apparently these red, or pink, grapefruits are milder and sweeter than the other types. I certainly hope I can find them again because I prefer the taste of these to the yellow and with varieties.

Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas by @Spicie Foodie | #grapefruit #healthbenefits #recipes

Grapefruit Health Benefits

Many people associate grapefruits with a healthy breakfast and waistline. Below are some grapefruit health benefits and information that my research yielded.

– high in Vitamin C, great for fighting off a cold, flu and sore throats
– high in calcium, folic acid, phosphorus, and potassium
– a certain compound in grapefruits held reduce cholesterol
– safe for diabetics, grapefruits help reduce starches and sweets in the system.
– helps promote digestions by increasing flow of gastric juices
– it is said to help promote sleep and alleviate insomnia
– pink and red varieties are said to fight tumors and have strong antioxidant properties.
– prevent kidney stones
– protect against colon cancer
– In a study, the bioflavonoids found in grapefruit was discovered to even halt cancer cells from spreading in breast cancer patients, by ridding the body of excess estrogen.
– grapefruits are widely used in weight loss diets because it is believed they containing a fat burning enzyme.
– grapefruits are low in calories and high in fiber

Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas by @Spicie Foodie | #grapefruit #healthbenefits #recipes

Grapefruit Side Effects

Though generally grapefruits are thought of as healthy and safe for consumption there are a few side effects that everyone needs to be aware of. In large quantities grapefruit can have unhealthy side effects, so if you’re on the “Grapefruit Diet” do consult your physician. If you don’t consume them often then there is really no need for concern.

– Grapefruit interacts with many medications, like the effectiveness of contraceptives, antibiotics, cholesterol medications…etc
– They can also reduce the effectiveness of some drugs, and exacerbate the side effects of others. For a full list read this article.
– grapefruits can contribute to blood clots
– in large quantities they can contribute to stomach upset and nausea.
– Due to it’s acidic nature, grapefruits can overtime wear away tooth enamel.

Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas by @Spicie Foodie | #grapefruit #healthbenefits #recipes

Grapefruit Recipes

Now that you know the good and bad about grapefruits, you should also know these yummy ways of enjoying an occasional grapefruit treat. As you will see grapefruits are not just a breakfast food.

– Grapefruit & Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe by Chasing Delicious
– Broiled Grapefruit Recipe by Never Enough Time
– Grapefruit Margarita Recipe by Sweet Life
– Grapefruit, Avocado, and Shrimp Salad with Balsamic Reduction by The Kitchen Paper
– Earl Grey and Pink Grapefruit Tart Recipe by Tartine and Apron Strings
– Grapefruit Honey Curd Recipe by Kitchen Simplicity
– Marinated fennel and grapefruit salad recipe by Five and Spice
– Citrus Beef Skewers Recipe by Tara’s Multicultural Table
– Grapefruit Beer, have you tasted it?

Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas by @Spicie Foodie | #grapefruit #healthbenefits #recipes

Or of course, you can always just enjoy a juicy grapefruit all it’s own.

Grapefruit Health Benefits, Side Effects and Recipe Ideas by @Spicie Foodie | #grapefruit #healthbenefits #recipes

 

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Filed Under: Fruits

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Comments

  1. Rosa says

    July 2, 2013 at 19:18

    Gorgeous clicks! I really love th elast one…

    Grapefruits taste so good.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 2, 2013 at 22:59

      Thank you Rosa!:)

      Reply
  2. Foodie in WV says

    July 2, 2013 at 19:31

    I love using grapefruit in recipes, it lends great flavor!

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 2, 2013 at 23:00

      That’s great, glad to hear you enjoy the flavour.

      Reply
  3. Lisa says

    July 2, 2013 at 19:40

    I love grapefruit. I eat it raw with nothing added, although I know lots of people who put salt or sugar on it or broil it.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 2, 2013 at 23:00

      I’ve never tried adding salt, that sounds great. Thanks for the tip Lisa!:)

      Reply
  4. Monique says

    July 2, 2013 at 21:08

    Beautiful photos..and a very informative piece too!

    Well done..as always~
    So gorgeous..mother nature sure knows what she is doing…
    Creating fruit for you to photo:)

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 2, 2013 at 23:01

      I owe a big thank you to Mother Nature, don’t I? Thank you Monique:)

      Reply
  5. Evelyne@cheapethniceatz says

    July 2, 2013 at 22:21

    I have seen Ruby Red juice but never saw one, it is gorgeous. I have never been a fan of eating a grapefruit…except with lots of sugar lol. Funny how many side effects it can have. I knew about the meds but some are new to me. great pics.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 2, 2013 at 23:02

      I haven’t seen the juice but would really love to. Hehe, my husband doesn’t like it even with sugar added. Thank you Evelyne!:)

      Reply
  6. Daniela says

    July 3, 2013 at 00:15

    What a gorgeous presentation for the star of this post – the Grapefruit :)
    I’m also happy to learn about it’s star qualities like the numerous health benefits.
    I love the pictures Nancy, so elegant and classy, great post!

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 3, 2013 at 01:24

      Thank you so much Daniela!:)

      Reply
  7. Joanne T Ferguson says

    July 3, 2013 at 04:27

    G’day Nancy! I LOVE grapefruit recipes!
    Love your photos and every time I experience, they do please!
    Cheers! Joanne

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 3, 2013 at 12:24

      Thank you so much Joanne!:)

      Reply
  8. Victoria of Flavors of the Sun says

    July 3, 2013 at 04:37

    Terrific post, Nancy. Great info, great links to interesting recipes, and astonishingly gorgeous photos!

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 3, 2013 at 12:25

      Thank you so much Victoria:)

      Reply
  9. Vicki Bensinger says

    July 3, 2013 at 06:54

    Great information Nancy. I didn’t know all those health benefits but was aware of some of the bad reactions to specific medications. Thanks for sharing this and all those recipes.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 3, 2013 at 12:25

      Hi Vicki! I had no idea about the adverse effects on some medications, good to know. Thank you:)

      Reply
  10. Eha says

    July 3, 2013 at 07:01

    Thank you for enumerating the adverse side effects the fruit can have, first of all! Many people do not realize and get in trouble . . . I love the fruit on occasion, but we surely do have different looking ones in Australia – much flatter, rounder and oft pale yellow in colour. I eat them for taste but am aware how healthy they can be . . . oh to keep away from drugs and be able to eat everything! Which always comes first: the chicken or the egg . . .

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 3, 2013 at 12:27

      That’s too bad that you don’t have this variety there. I would love to tell you where this one came from, but there was no information. Yes, that would be nice to not need drugs and only eat the food we want without any effects. Thank you Eha!:)

      Reply
  11. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    July 3, 2013 at 08:20

    Gorgeous photos, you’ve really capture the essence of grapefruit! :)

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 3, 2013 at 12:27

      Thank you so much Laura!

      Reply
  12. My Kitchen Stories says

    July 3, 2013 at 10:30

    I Nancy. Lovely photos, you clever thing. I didn’t realize grapefruit could cause such havoc. I don’t really eat it as it is a bit acidic for me but it does go well with fennel and fish.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 3, 2013 at 12:28

      Hi Tania! I need to try the fennel and fish pairing — sounds lovely. Thank you so much:)

      Reply
  13. Trix says

    July 3, 2013 at 16:55

    Nancy, these photos are just gorgeous – I ADORE the light.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 3, 2013 at 18:27

      Thank you dawling!xx

      Reply
  14. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    July 3, 2013 at 17:54

    I too enjoy grapefruit…raw or in baked goods. They are so delicious!

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 3, 2013 at 18:27

      That’s great Angie:)

      Reply
  15. yummychunklet says

    July 3, 2013 at 20:04

    Great process photos!

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 4, 2013 at 22:12

      Thanks!

      Reply
  16. john@kitchenriffs says

    July 3, 2013 at 20:13

    Gorgeous pictures! And great info too – but the pictures make the post. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 4, 2013 at 22:12

      Thank you John!

      Reply
  17. Liz says

    July 4, 2013 at 03:41

    Ruby red grapefruit are my favorites!!! Now I’m craving one big time!!!! Beautiful photos, my friend.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 4, 2013 at 22:12

      Thanks so much amiga:)

      Reply
  18. mjskit says

    July 4, 2013 at 05:11

    There are very few things much tastier than a sweet and tart grapefruit! Love them! Your pictures are lovely!

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 4, 2013 at 22:13

      Glad you do MJ, thank you:)

      Reply
  19. Ash-foodfashionparty says

    July 4, 2013 at 06:52

    I love your clicks. I’m really glad you wrote the good and bad about Grapefruit. I remember a friend of mine went on a grapefruit diet, and she messed her system up, we are glad she’s ok now though.
    Ash

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 4, 2013 at 22:14

      Oh wow, I’m glad to hear she is okay now. Who knew something like fruit could be so bad — yet another reason not to do any fad diets. Thank you Ash:)

      Reply
  20. Helene D'souza says

    July 4, 2013 at 11:15

    Before reading I was about to exclaim that it looks like a pomelo. ^.^ Oh what a gorgeous grapefruit type. We have a young tree here and right now I just hope it’s the ruby one as you explained above. =D

    Grapefruit Beer. really?

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 4, 2013 at 22:15

      How lucky of you, I hope you do too. Yep, beer! It sounds strand but was quite good. Thanks Helene:)

      Reply
  21. easyfoodsmith says

    July 4, 2013 at 14:51

    There are so many citrus fruits to know about! Thanks for sharing the info. Beautiful clicks :-)

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 4, 2013 at 22:15

      Thank you Taruna!

      Reply
  22. Ramona says

    July 5, 2013 at 13:59

    Nancy… you are Good!! You can even make peeling a grapefruit look sexy and beautiful!! I can almost hear the burlesque music in the background.

    Now me peeling a grapefruit is a scarey thing… I get juice all down my finger and hands. :)

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 5, 2013 at 14:11

      Haha, next time I peel any fruit I’m going to picture the music and your comment.:) Well, some might find your peeling sexy, hehe. Thanks Ramona!xx

      Reply
  23. Suzanne Perazzini says

    July 5, 2013 at 22:08

    That’s interesting because I sent my husband to the store to get me some oranges the other day and he came back with exactly these grapefruit. The looked just like big oranges and inside they were pink. I thought they could be a special brand of orange but then I bit into one and I knew immediately they were grapefruit.
    Lovely photos!

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 5, 2013 at 22:12

      Wow, really? Then I wonder if mine was imported from New Zealand. I hope you enjoyed the grapefruits. Thanks, Suzanne and I hope you’re feeling good.:)

      Reply
  24. Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says

    July 6, 2013 at 00:30

    Gorgeous photos! I especially love the pile of peel in the last shot. :)

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 6, 2013 at 01:14

      Thanks so much Kiersten!:)

      Reply
  25. Amelia says

    July 6, 2013 at 05:02

    Hi Nancy, thanks for sharing the grapefruit benefit. Love the pictures, very well taken. I’m impressed.

    Best regards.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 6, 2013 at 14:35

      Hi Amelia, thank you so much!:)

      Reply
  26. Holly says

    July 7, 2013 at 15:59

    Some of those recipes look really enticing. I can’t believe you’ve never had a Ruby Red before! They’re all I used to eat before moving to the land of pomelos.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 7, 2013 at 17:09

      I know, I couldn’t believe I’d never seen or eaten one. Pomelos are next on the list.

      Reply
  27. Frank @Memorie di Angelina says

    July 16, 2013 at 14:54

    Hmmm…. I’ve never seen a grapefruit quite like that. I generally find grapefruits a bit too tart for my taste, but if it’s milder and sweeter than most, this might just be a variety that I will like!

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      July 16, 2013 at 17:23

      It’s the first of it’s kind I’ve ever seen, Frank. This one was milder and sweeter so you might want to give it a try. Thanks!

      Reply
  28. hulya says

    January 31, 2014 at 09:40

    Great photos again.. Is it possible to write the settings details how you took the grepafruit’s draamtic photos. :) I love spotlight..Darkness at the background.. and light only on the fruit ( one spot) what do you use to get this look please . Thank you….

    Reply

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