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Grapefruit

Eat this slightly sweet, bitter fruit for a boost of fiber and vitamin C.

Grapefruits come in several varieties including red, white, and pink. They all taste relatively similar, slightly sweet and bitter. Grapefruits are great to have on hand for a quick snack during the day, they can even be used pre-workout.

Health Benefits of Grapefruit:

Grapefruits are packed with vitamins A and C as well as additional antioxidants, making them great for immunity and recovering from illness. They’re a natural source of water and fiber making them particularly beneficial for controlling blood sugar levels and hunger cues.

Nutrient Breakdown of Grapefruit:

How To Use:

Use as you would any other fresh fruit of choice! You can try them in salads, atop yogurt, oatmeal, porridge, or au naturale. Grapefruit juice is great in regular water or sparkling water for a refreshing, natural drink.

Recipes:

Watermelon Grapefruit & Blackberry Salad 

Grapefruit Ginger Compote

Simply Infused Water

NS Recommends:

After using the flesh of the fruit for eating, squeeze out any remaining juice to use as a dressing, in a sauce, or in Simply Infused Water for a boost of flavor and a bit of nutrition. If you have a garbage disposal you can also put the leftover meat and skin of the grapefruit down the drain to give your kitchen a fresh scent!

Note:

Some individuals who take prescription medications should be extra cautious when incorporating grapefruit into their diets. Grapefruit has a strong interaction with some of the most widely prescribed medications. Why? Grapefruit contains a compound called naringenin that inactivates cytochrome P450 3A4 (a fancy way of saying an enzyme in the small intestine that metabolizes some prescription drugs). This slows down the normal detoxification and metabolism in the liver and intestines, which makes it harder for the body to eliminate and break down the drug. Not only can grapefruit decrease the function of a drug, but it can also enhance the drug making it more potent — both of these side effects are no good when you’re trying to regulate a medical condition with a prescription drug. Best advice is to do your research and ask your physician.