When you want some fruits especially the juicy ones, then grapefruit comes to your mind as the right click to go with. This yummy winter fruit serves your taste buds with a sour to semi-sweet sort of citrus taste. It’s not just about the taste, but it comes in appealing colors of different kinds, like; yellow and pink, to red color. While among these eye-catching colors, red ones are desirable to eat, not because of the color but due to the presence of some chemicals like beta-carotenes and lycopene. These chemicals are actually anti-oxidants in nature, which means they have the ability to kill free radicals that may trigger some diseases in the human body.
This fruit comes under the common consumption category of food among people in most countries, as they feel that it hydrates them immediately. Its easy availability in most countries makes it easy to buy, easy to eat and drink in the form of juice. Due to all the above-mentioned positive aspects, the chances of a mix-up of grapefruit with medicine are very high among individuals. But, there is something to worry about with this combination, and we are going to mention what it is.
Some facts of Grapefruit that are must to aware with
Like; what if you are on a medication for an illness and suddenly notice that your medication is not working on you? Or is producing some unwanted effects? Yes! This fruit has the ability to either minimize or maximize the effects of different medicines on our bodies. Due to this feature, those medicines could be proven harmful instead of treating health issues. Let’s discuss all kinds of effects in detail here;
How it reduces the effects of your medicines?
There are some proteins present in our body for the movement of drugs to their locations where they have to perform their actions to treat illnesses. Grapefruit affects the mechanism of these transporter proteins and doesn’t allow the drugs to enter the bloodstream.
Examples of such drugs;
- Antiplatelet; Clopidogrel
- Angiotensin II receptor antagonist; Losartan
How it exaggerates the effects of your medicines
There is an enzyme in our body named; CYP3A4, its role in our intestine is to metabolize drugs. Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4 induced metabolism, causing a large amount of drugs to enter our blood and remain in our body for a longer period of time. This phenomenon results in enhanced effects of drugs on our bodies.
It also inhibits the activity of another enzyme named; cytochrome P450 3A4. As a result, the levels of the drugs that are metabolized by this enzyme will increase in the body.
Examples of such drugs
- Chemotherapeutics; Cyclosporine
- Anticoagulant: Warfarin
- Cholesterol lowering agents; Statins
- Calcium Channel blockers
- Antihistamines; Terfenadine and analogues of serotonin
- Steroids; Budesonide
- Benzodiazepines and drugs acting on CNS
- Antiplatelet; Ticagrelor
- Hormonal; Estrogen
- Anticholinergic; Scopolamine
- Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors; Sildenafil
- Antiarrhythmic; Amiodaron
- Opioid; Methadone
- Antimalarial; Halofantrine
- Antibiotic; Erythromycin
- Anthelmintics; Praziquantel
- Alkaloid; Colchicine
Reference: Food and Drug Administration
Instead of facts above, why are people obsessed with this fruit?
Instead of facts above, why are people obsessed with Grapefruit?
Well! People love to consume this fruit due to its long profile of health benefits. And this is the main reason that its interactions are most likely to be observed among individuals. Let’s discuss all the benefits one by one.
Potential health benefits of Grapefruit
Helps in weight loss
It contains some enzymes that burn off body fat. This detoxifying effect reduces your body mass. Regular consumption of this fruit for 10–12 days will result in a weight loss of 10 pounds.
Immune system booster
The presence of a combination of Vitamin A and C helps to boost the immune system and helps the body fight against diseases.
Contributor towards heart health
Cholesterol and high blood pressure are major contributors to heart disease. As it reduces the blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the body, it contributes to the management of heart health.
Reduction of symptoms of premature aging
The presence of vitamin A in it produces collagen for your skin to remove wrinkles and fine lines and to stop the premature aging process.
Lowers blood pressure
Its potassium content contributes to the management of high blood pressure and is useful in dealing with hypertensive crises.
Supports the mechanism of wound healing
Grapefruit increases the ability of cells to migrate and increases the count of healthy cells. It reduces the formation of free radicals across the cells. Genes that are responsible for increasing cell formation will also become expressive with its intake. All these mechanisms will contribute to wound healing.
Serves as a major source of antioxidants
It is enriched with anti-oxidants (fighters against free radicals) like; Vitamin A & C, Flavanones (chemical compounds that enhance the activity of healthy cells), Beta-carotene (chemicals that maintain skin health), and Lycopene (which lowers the risks of cancer and heart disease).
Anticancer properties
Some studies suggest that intake of 6 glasses of grapefruit juice a day could reduce the potential activity of an enzyme CYP1A2 that is the major contributor to cancer development in tobacco smokers.
Enhance digestion
The presence of high contents of fibers in this fruit helps in the digestion mechanism.
Lowers the incidence of diabetes
Grapefruit reduces the resistance of body cells to insulin and hence decreases the incidence of diabetes in a person.
Hydrates our body
88% of its weight is composed of water content so this fruit is the best choice for hydrating your body.
Treats insomnia (Floral essence)
An antioxidant, Lycopene, present in it contributes towards the treatment of sleep disorders.
Antibiotic effects (leaf extracts)
It shows antibacterial activity against some bacteria like; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Nutritional value of Grapefruit Juice
If we look at its nutrition value then one cup its juice contains;
- Vitamin C (77mg),
- Calories (76),
- Sugar (16.8g),
- Carbohydrates (19g),
- Fats (0.2g),
- Protein (1.6g),
- Dietary fibers (2.5g),
- Potassium (340mg),
- Calcium (28mg),
- Phosphorus (18mg),
- Iron (0.1mg),
- Magnesium (21mg) and
- Zinc (0.2mg).
What to look upon in case of some disease?
Yes! This popular fruit also has some harmful effects in some conditions, like:
In Kidney Infection
It can worsen the kidney infection due to the presence of high potassium contents in it.
In gastric diseases
It worsens the heartburn and acidity.
So what should we do with this info?
The purpose of this information to be shared with you is to make you literate about the right use of this fruit at the right time and with the right combination. So the caution is to; be careful with the administration of the above-mentioned drugs along with the intake of grapefruit. In case if you co-ingest these drugs with grapefruit or its juice mistakenly, then consult your doctor immediately to avoid the potential harmful effects.
