Grapefruit contains a number of vitamins and minerals that offer a range of health benefits. Some older studies suggest that consuming grapefruit may help reduce a person’s cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is present in the body. It is essential for good health. Medical professionals often split cholesterol into two categories: “bad” cholesterol and “good” cholesterol.
High levels of bad cholesterol can cause fatty deposits to build up in the blood vessels. This can increase a person’s risk of several health issues, including heart attack and stroke. While more research is necessary, older evidence suggests that grapefruit may help lower bad cholesterol levels.
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Some evidence suggests that grapefruit may be able to help lower a person’s cholesterol levels.
Grapefruit membranes are
Viscous fiber is a soluble fiber that the gut does not absorb. Viscous fiber can also bind to cholesterol in the gut. This means the gut cannot absorb the cholesterol. This action can help lower a person’s bad cholesterol.
An
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- bile flow
- the concentration of biliary bile cholesterol
- the concentration of biliary bile acids
These abilities may enhance the excretion of cholesterol, which can reduce cholesterol levels.
Most of the studies on the effects of grapefruit juice and cholesterol levels are older, with some mixed results. This means that more studies are necessary to determine whether consuming grapefruit may help decrease cholesterol levels.
Evidence suggests that grapefruit can interact with some drugs. These include the following:
Statins
Statins are a group of medications that can help
When a person takes simvastatin, the body metabolizes the drug and breaks it down. Studies show that consuming grapefruit when taking simvastatin can significantly inhibit the body’s ability to metabolize the drug.
This can cause large amounts of the drug to remain in a person’s bloodstream. When this occurs, it
Read on to learn more about grapefruit and statins.
Antiarrhythmics
Some people take antiarrhythmic medications to
Studies show that grapefruit juice
These effects can all increase a person’s chance of developing an adverse drug reaction.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are medications that people take
According to the
Grapefruit juice can block the transporters that move the medication into the body’s cells, which can reduce the effectiveness of fexofenadine. Consuming grapefruit juice while taking fexofenadine may also increase a person’s risk of developing side effects.
Other medications
According to the FDA, grapefruit may interact with other medications,
- some medications for high blood pressure
- some anti-anxiety medications
- some organ transplant rejection drugs
- certain corticosteroids for treating Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
A person should speak to their doctor if they are taking these medications and wish to consume grapefruit.
Some health benefits of grapefruits may include:
Vitamin C
According to the
Vitamin C has a number of possible health benefits, including:
- protecting cells and maintaining cell health
- helping wounds to heal
- maintaining the health of the following structures:
- skin
- bones
- blood vessels
- cartilage
Antioxidants
Free radicals are chemicals in the body that are
Grapefruits contain
- preventing and treating the effects of diabetes
- reducing a person’s risk of cancer
- reducing a person’s risk of atherosclerosis
- reducing a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular diseases
- reducing oxidative stress
- reducing inflammation
Lycopene may also have positive neuroprotective qualities that may cause it to relieve:
- age-related memory loss
- cognitive defects
- synaptic dysfunction of the brain
- age-related neuroinflammatory disorders
Some health points to consider when consuming grapefruit include:
Interactions with medications
Grapefruit interacts with certain medications,
- statins
- antiarrhythmics
- antihistamines
- high blood pressure medications
- anti-anxiety medications
- certain corticosteroids
- organ-transplant rejection drugs
A person should always check with their doctor if they are taking these medications and wish to consume grapefruit.
Grapefruit juice may increase the risk of kidney stones
A
It states that epidemiological studies suggest that grapefruit juice may increase a person’s risk of developing KSD. However, the review also states that smaller clinical studies indicate that grapefruit juice may have a protective role against KSD.
More research is necessary to determine grapefruit’s effect on KSD.
There are a number of things a person can do to manage their cholesterol levels. These
- eating foods that are low in saturated fats and trans fats
- avoiding red and processed meats
- following a heart-healthy diet containing:
- fruits
- vegetables
- whole grains
- poultry
- fish
- nuts
- nontropical vegetable oils
- being physically active
- maintaining a healthy weight
- avoiding smoking, if applicable
Grapefruit contains vitamin D and has antioxidant properties. This means that it can have a number of possible health benefits. Some older studies suggest that grapefruit may help lower bad cholesterol. However, more research is necessary to confirm this.
The vitamin D in grapefruit may also help protect cells, help wounds heal, and maintain healthy skin, bones, blood vessels, and cartilage. Antioxidant properties in grapefruit may also help reduce a person’s risk of developing diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases.
Grapefruit may also interact with certain medications, including statins, antiarrhythmics, and antihistamines. This can affect how the medications work and may increase a person’s risk of adverse drug effects.