Grapefruits are a Wonder Food

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Grapefruits are a Wonder Food

 

http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/cat-blood-pressure.html

 

On February 21st Nicholas Bakalar of The New York Times reported

that an

upcoming study in The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry

claims

that ruby red grapefruits will " most probably " help anyone with high

blood pressure. Even though researchers aren't sure what makes ruby

red

grapefruits so special:

 

The researchers tested 57 patients ages 39 to 72 who had undergone

coronary bypass surgery and had found that Zocor, or simvastatin,

was

ineffective. They divided them randomly into three groups.

Each group consumed the same diet, except that one ate one red

grapefruit daily, the second ate one white grapefruit, and the third

ate

no grapefruit at all. None took lipid-lowering drugs during the test.

 

After one month, there were no differences in the heart rate, blood

pressure or weight of the three groups. Antioxidant activity in both

white and red groups was increased compared with the group that ate

no

grapefruit.

 

But the group that ate red grapefruit every day also had

significantly

decreased blood levels of triglycerides.

 

 

Dr. Fuhrman reacts:

 

Grapefruits are a wonder food. I have recommended my overweight and

diabetic patients eat grapefruits, kiwis, berries, pomegranates, and

apples for years. These foods have protective effects against heart

attacks and cancer and promote weight loss. When foods promote

weight

lost they aid in the recovery from diabetes. These fruits should not

be

avoided because they contain sugar. I have hundreds of patients who

no

longer have diabetes and who have reached that milestone because

they

have included these healthful weight-loss-promoting fruits in their

diet.

 

Grapefruits also get a bad rap because they have naturally occurring

substances such as naringin and naringenin, substances that could

affect

blood levels of certain medication; notably calcium channel blockers

for

blood pressure and statins for cholesterol lowering. It is better to

reduce the drug dose or get your doctor to switch you to a different

medication that does not have this reaction, not do away with your

morning grapefruit.

 

Grapefruit is not only a great food contributing to your health and

ideal weight but it actually may help you lower your blood pressure

and

your cholesterol, thus lessening the need for these medications

anyway.

When you eat healthfully and include grapefruit in your program you

will

most likely be able to achieve the cholesterol lowering without

drugs.

So get on to the Eat To Live program, eat your grapefruit, and get

off

your drugs.

 

Grapefruits are full of anti-cancer phytochemicals including

limonoids,

lemonin, glucarates and pectins.

 

In scientific studies, grapefruits and the nutrients it contains

such as

lycopene has been shown to:

 

Lower cholesterol

Promote reversal of atherosclerosis

Reduce kidney stone formation

Prevent cancer

 

So eat grapefruits for breakfast, cut up grapefruits in your salads

and

get off your drugs, not the other way around.