Health Benefits of Ruby Red Grapefruit
The big, beautiful ruby red is absolutely bursting with vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, fibre, lycopene and naringenin.
This sweet and tangy citrus fruit has won over the hearts and palettes of health conscious foodies and home cooks because of its effervescent sunshine punch of flavor and its significant health benefits including but not limited to;
Adrenal gland health Vitamin C has been researched to prove critical to proper adrenal gland function.
Anti-cancer properties Vitamin C is a mighty anti-oxidant that combats the cell-damaging free radicals that can cause various cancers including those of the cervix, oesophagus, oral cavity, pancreas, rectum and stomach. Naringenin is a flavonoid anti-oxidant, which has been shown to stimulate cell repair in patients suffering from prostate cancer. And, as if that weren’t enough, ruby reds also contain beta-carotene, yet another flavonoid anti-oxidant that fights off free radicals.
Arthritis Anti-oxidant vitamin C de-activates those sinister free radicals that often cause inflammation in folks suffering from osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Eye health Vitamin A is essential for the proper maintenance of healthy eye tissue and can protect the eyes from age-related macular degeneration and promote higher visual acuity for all.
Healthy bones and teeth Vitamin C is essential for healthy gums. Vitamin A and beta-carotene are both good for healthy teeth.
Heart health Lycopene stops LDL, or “bad cholesterol” from doing damage to arterial walls. The various anti-oxidants in ruby red grapefruit, lycopene included, have been known to lower triglycerides. The ruby red’s high fibre content helps lower cholesterol. Vitamin C has the capacity to lower blood pressure and fight atherosclerosis. The ruby red grapefruit is also a cholesterol-free food, and that is always great news for those loving their heart.
Immune system health Vitamin C is the world heavyweight champ when it comes to building and maintaining a healthy immune system and warding off and lessening the symptoms of an almost innumerable amount of disease ranging from the common cold to influenza to HIV.
Kidney health Drinking grapefruit juice, in particular, is rumoured to be an excellent means of preventing the formation of kidney stones.
BEAUTY
Anti-oxidant properties This ruby red princess of citrus fruits is an absolute amalgam of anti-oxidants including vitamins A and C, beta-carotene and naringenin, all of which combat the cell-damaging free radicals that can cause premature ageing. In your defence, they keep your hair follicles healthy and well-maintained for proper hair growth and your nails resilient and less prone to easy breakage.
Vitamin C This superpower vitamin helps build healthy collagen and can ward of age-related wrinkles and fine lines and result in firmer more elastic skin overall.
WEIGHT LOSS
This delicious, nutritious and succulent fruit is a waist watcher’s dream as it is low in calories (a mere 102 calories for a whole grapefruit) high in fibre (4 grams per fruit) and cholesterol-free. This fruit is a snack that will never leave you disappointed. Its tangy sweetness will enliven your taste buds and keep you feeling full . The wealth of fibre will keep your digestive system on track and flush out your body, resulting in a more steady weight loss.
COOKING
Ruby red grapefruits are sublime when eaten all natural, sliced in half with a sharp knife and scooped out with a silver spoon. They can be a simple and simply delicious part of a balanced breakfast a replete with some lightly buttered Whole dark rye toast and a soft boiled egg sprinkled with sea salt, or as a mid-morn or mid-afternoon pick-me-up snack. Top with cooked quinoa, almonds, currants and a little honey , finish under a hot grill for a delightful twist.
Ruby red grapefruit wedges are pretty-in-pink additions to a festive fruit salad to bring to your next backyard family gathering or potluck pick company picnic. toss together a savoury salad filled with grapefruit wedges, avocado, bitter chicory, red-wine vinegar, honey, olive oil and your favourite spices, to taste.
A sweet, salty and slightly spicy and surprising appetiser is a ruby red grapefruit and scallop meat ceviche mingled with smoked paprika, a jaunt of fresh cilantro, black sesame seeds and a dash of sumac Take that, taste buds!
Ruby red grapefruit & coconut cupcakes are sure to be a hot-seller at the next the kids at the next class birthday party. Plus, you are sneaking in a bit of healthiness disguised as dessert into their diets, always good.
On a slow Weekend, simmer up and serve some brilliantly coloured ruby red grapefruit & chai seed marmalade that is pure delight when spread on French crepes or slathered on already buttered fresh baked sweet potato scones.
Ruby red grapefruit & bergamont gelato or sorbet is a thirst-quenching body-cooling, marriage made in heaven summer treat.
And for an intoxicatingly delicious nightcap, add some freshly squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice to your favourite liquor libation (vodka and gin work just fine) and shake the night away…
Interesting fact about the Ruby Red Grapefruit
“Ruby Red Grapefruit is the official emblematic fruit of the big state of Texas where it is said to have originated”.
