This post originally appeared on Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog in 2015 as part of a sponsored partnership with our friends at Dole. It has been updated and moved here to Half Baked Media to ensure the information remains fresh for our readers.
Happy National Grapefruit Month! To celebrate this exciting time of month, we are sharing 10 benefits of grapefruits with you. Grapefruits are one of my favorite fruits. I just love the sweet and sour combo. When I was pregnant with my daughter, watermelon and grapefruit were my go-to fruits in the beginning because everything else gave me morning sickness. The struggle is real, lol.
10 Benefits of Grapefruit You Need to Know
There are tons of benefits of grapefruit. Below you’ll find ten of my favorite benefits.
Morning Sickness
I enjoyed being pregnant, but I don’t miss the morning sickness. Early in pregnancy, morning sickness can be common in expecting mothers. Grapefruit can help, especially when eaten early in the morning. Grapefruit has fiber, and the sweet and sour flavor can contribute to settling an upset tummy. I don’t know if this works for everyone, but I have met several other people who agreed grapefruit helped kick their morning sickness if they drank it first thing in the morning.
Get Sleep
Eating grapefruit can help you sleep better due to the high levels of lycopene, an antioxidant linked to improved sleep quality. If you find yourself struggling to fall asleep, you might consider trying to incorporate a glass of grapefruit juice or a fresh serving into your evening routine to see if it helps you fall asleep faster.
Weight Loss
Grapefruit is loaded with water and fiber, which can help you with weight loss because you will feel full and satisfied. Grapefruit is also known to help improve insulin sensitivity, which helps your body process sugars better and can support a healthy metabolism.
Vitamin C
There is nothing wrong with loading up on vitamin C. It might not prevent colds, but high doses of vitamin C can help shorten and lessen symptoms. There are so many benefits of grapefruit, including boosting your immune system thanks to the vitamin C. It’s on the top of my list when I don’t feel well.
Lower Cholesterol
Grapefruit may lower your high cholesterol levels thanks to the terpene.
Fiber
Another GREAT benefit of grapefruits is the fiber they contain, which can help intestinal health and keep you nice and regular.
Cancer
Lycopene is in the pink grapefruit; the pink and red colors are due to the lycopene, and it is known to help protect against pancreatic, bladder, and even cervical cancers. Limonene can also be in grapefruits, but it’s mostly in the grapefruit’s skin and has natural anticancer properties, especially for pancreatic and stomach cancer. It’s worth adding grapefruit and grapefruit zest to your diet.
Kidney Stones
If you have ever had kidney stones, I’m going to bet you agree: THEY’RE AWFUL. Drink grapefruit juice; it could help to reduce the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
Diabetes
Did you know that eating grapefruit can help to reduce the sweets and starches in your system? Consuming grapefruit might help you avoid diabetes.
Grapefruit Rocks
Seriously, grapefruit is incredible! It tastes great, has so many health benefits, tastes amazing, and is affordable. Not to mention there are tons of things you can do with grapefruit. Be sure to head over to the Dole website to learn more and check out all of their great grapefruit recipes.
Happy National Grapefruit Month!
I am not a doctor, please consult a professional before making major dietary changes
