Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Grapefruits are an excellent source of vitamin C. - photos by Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore

Over the festive season, you ate far too much Christmas cake and ham, and now you are stuck with the extra pounds. But, thankfully adding grapefruit to your diet will help you get rid of the excess pounds.

Grapefruit is said to have originated in the West Indies, perhaps Jamaica its origins are obscure, it is believed to have developed as a hybrid of the sweet orange and the citrus plant named shaddock after the sea captain who first brought it to the West Indies from Polynesia around the turn of the 18th century.

The grapefruit was first called the 'forbidden fruit' in Barbados and Jamaica in 1814 because the fruit grows in cluster as grapes grapefruit was first developed and widely established in the West Indies, commercial production was first undertaken in the United States.

Several varieties of grapefruit

There are several varieties of grapefruit - white, red (sweeter then white), Pummelo (the father of the grapefruit), Minneola, a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit, and can be recognised by "the little nose". It can be peeled by hand. Sweetie is a cross between the Pummelo and the white grapefruit - looks green, but tastes sweeter.

Note: In Jamaica people tend to get rid of the sour taste of grapefruit by adding condensed milk or sugar. However, all you are doing is adding tons of calories thus hindering the benefits of the fruit.

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Medicinal uses

Consuming the fruit in a reasonable quantity will maintain a healthy diet. In fact, studies show that grapefruit contains substances that are useful in preventing several diseases. It is a good source of vitamin C, pectin fibre and the pink and red fruit hues contain the beneficial antioxidant lycopene. Studies also show that grapefruit helps lower cholesterol and there is evidence that the seeds have low levels of antioxidant properties.

Grapefruit seed extract has been claimed to be a strong antimicrobial with proven activity against bacteria and fungi. However, studies have shown the efficacy of grapefruit seed extract as an antimicrobial is not demonstrated. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory disorders, find that eating a grapefruit daily seems to alleviate their symptoms.

Ms. Terrer notes that despite the many health benefits of grapefruit people on heart medication, certain high blood pressure, cholesterol medication should stay away from grapefruit because the fruit affects how the medicine's interaction with the body.

Myth

There is the myth that eating a half of a grapefruit will help you lose weight, but the whole fruit may cause the reverse. Madeline Terrer, dietitian at the Heart Foundation, explains that the fruit contains a high source of fibre resulting in a greater feeling of fullness. "Having a half of grapefruit before meals daily will keep blood sugar level more consistent, hence insulin level will be low. All these contribute to a better appetite control therefore prevents overeating," she said.

She added that consuming a whole grapefruit three times daily is not a good idea because of the acid level. The acid level plus the fibre content in three grapefruits daily, may cause bloating and possibly lead to heartburn. She believes the best way to lose weight and maintain it is with a balanced diet.