May 15, 2023 | Categories: Health, Home
Ah, the grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), orange’s more tart, sometimes sweet cousin, and a perennial favorite in winter fruit. These tangy, softball-sized citrus fruits are a hybrid of the orange and pomelo. A relatively newish fruit, grapefruits originated in the 18th century in Barbados, but Jamaicans coined the name itself.
Part of the Rutaceae family of fruit (think orange, lime, kumquat), grapefruits were once known as “the forbidden fruit,” a moniker given to them by naturalist Griffith Hughes, perhaps because, as one story goes, it was a way for islanders to warn others about the grapefruit’s terrible taste.
More than 20 types of grapefruit. The interior flesh of a grapefruit can be white, pink, or star ruby/ruby red, and it can be either seeded or seedless. Some of the most popular types of grapefruit are Ruby Red (Indian River Ruby Red in Florida, Rio Reds from Texas), White or Yellow, Pink, Pomelo, and Melogold.
The grapefruit is a good source of fiber, vitamin A, and lycopene contains more than half the day’s recommended vitamin C intake and is chock full of flavonoids, which can help fight stroke and heart disease. While it was part of a popular diet fad dating back to the 1930s, recent studies and experts say it has no unique weight loss benefits. Certain medications have interactions with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Talk to your doctor about any medications you are on and whether having this citrus fruit is safe.
Learn more about Delicious ways to enjoy grapefruits all day long at HarryandDavid.
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