Pink grapefruit is a fruit rich in vitamins and minerals that has several benefits and some contraindications. Let’s find out the main qualities of pink grapefruit.
Pink grapefruit is a hybrid between grapefruit of the Citrus maxima variety and orange of the Citrus sinensis variety.
It is less bitter and has a thinner skin than yellow grapefruit. Overall, it has characteristics comparable to those of its yellow cousin, but it is slightly richer in sugars and, above all, contains a greater concentration of anthocyanins and carotenes, in particular lycopene. Let’s take a look at the nutritional values right away and then see the benefits in detail.
Nutritional values per 100g of pink grapefruit:
- Waterfall: 90.98 g
- kcal: 32
- Proteins: 0.63 g
- Fat: 0.1 g
- of which saturated: 0.014 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.08 g
- of which sugars: 6.98 g
- Fibers: 1.1 g
- C vitamin: 34.4 mg
- Glycemic index: 25
- Cholesterol: 0 g
The beneficial properties of pink grapefruit
Pink grapefruit has antioxidant and beneficial properties against high cholesterol and triglycerides and, therefore, for the cardiovascular system. Moreover, thanks to the presence of vitamin C, this fruit is a good ally of the immune system. Let’s dive into the benefits of pink grapefruit now.
✓ Antioxidant properties
The richness of vitamin C and lycopene gives the pink grapefruit antioxidant properties, useful in counteracting the action of free radicals, responsible for cellular aging.
✓ Pink grapefruit and lycopene
Lycopene is believed to be a powerful antioxidant. According to a study, frequent consumption of foods rich in lycopene, associated with the habit of drinking green tea, would reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Other foods rich in lycopene are tomatoes and watermelon.
✓ Pink grapefruit and cholesterol
Pink grapefruit would be more effective than yellow grapefruit in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.
A study tested the effects of grapefruit on blood cholesterol levels. The people included in the research were divided into three groups: a yellow grapefruit diet, a pink grapefruit diet, and a grapefruit-free diet.
The results indicated that both types of grapefruit were able to reduce cholesterol levels in just 30 days, but the pink one was more effective; in fact, total cholesterol was reduced by 15.5% in the group that consumed pink grapefruit and by 7.6% in the group that consumed yellow grapefruit. LDL (bad) cholesterol was reduced by 20.3% in the pink grapefruit group and 10.7% in the yellow group.
Also according to the same study, pink grapefruit reduced the level of triglycerides by 17.2%, while yellow by 5.6%. On the other hand, there were no changes in the control group, that is, the one who had not eaten grapefruit, both in terms of cholesterol and triglycerides.
✓ Helps against water retention
Thanks to the presence of potassium, pink grapefruit is a good ally against water retention and cellulite. In addition, the presence of flavonoids strengthens the capillaries and makes the pompello an aid in case of swelling in the lower limbs.
✓ Pink grapefruit and metabolic syndrome
Pink grapefruit has been shown to help reduce insulin resistance in people with metabolic syndrome. In particular, insulin resistance is one of the main causes of this condition, as hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and cardiovascular disease come from it.
How much grapefruit to eat per day?
The guidelines for proper nutrition recommend consuming at least 2 servings of fruit a day. Considering that a medium-sized grapefruit is the equivalent of a serving of fruit, it can also be consumed twice a day, especially when it is in season. It can be eaten fresh or in the form of squeezed juice.
Remember, however, that a healthy diet is also based on the variety of foods consumed, therefore it is advisable to consume grapefruit but also other seasonal fruits, such as apples, pears, kiwis or other citrus fruits to provide the body with a greater variety of nutrients.
Does pink grapefruit make you lose weight?
We often hear that grapefruit, be it yellow or pink, makes you lose weight. How much is it true? In general, there is no food that, on its own, can guarantee weight loss, especially when the pounds to lose are too many. Power loss is always a goal to be achieved with a targeted diet and proper physical activity.
In the context of a correct diet, however, grapefruit can help promote weight loss, for a variety of reasons: first of all it is a fruit rich in fiber, therefore it has a high satiating power, it helps to keep under control blood sugar and helps drain excess fluids, a useful property when trying to regain physical shape.
Contraindications of pink grapefruit
Like other types of grapefruit, pink grapefruit is able to increase or, conversely, inhibit the action of some drugs. Some of the substances contained in these fruits can, in fact, perform a dual activity: if on the one hand they reduce the coenzymes used for the metabolization of drugs in the intestine, on the other they inhibit the action of the enzyme OATP1A2, essential for the metabolization of the drug. Therefore it is good to avoid grapefruit and its juice in conjunction with medication. In these cases it is advisable to seek the advice of your doctor.
