Pt Health Life – Grapefruit is low in calories but high in fiber, vitamin C along with some micronutrients that are beneficial for health. Many people believe that regularly eating grapefruit prevents premature aging.
1. What nutrients does grapefruit provide that are beneficial to health?
Grapefruit juice and meat contain many natural antioxidants that help prevent premature aging. In fact, grapefruit is a source of many important nutrients, including vitamins A, C, copper, potassium and thiamine, and especially healthful fiber .
According to nutritional analysis, one grapefruit contains about:
- Calories: 231
- Total carbohydrates: 58.6g
- Fiber: 6.1g
- Total fat: 0.2g
- Protein: 4.6g
- Sodium: 6.1mg (0.3% Daily Value – DV)
- Vitamin C : 371mg (412% DV)
- Copper: 0.3mg (33% DV)
- Potassium: 1,320mg (28% DV)
- Thiamine: 0.2mg (17% DV)
- Riboflavin: 0.2mg (15% DV)
- Vitamin B6: 0.2mg (12% DV)
- Magnesium: 36.5mg (9% DV)
- Phosphorus: 104mg (8% DV)
- Niacin: 1.3mg (8% DV)
Like other citrus fruits, grapefruit is a good source of vitamins C and A. In addition, grapefruit is almost fat-free but has significant amounts of essential minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and fiber. and calcium.
Grapefruit is also one of the fruits with the highest water content, containing up to 91% water. It also has a fairly low glycemic index. Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice regularly can contribute to reducing cholesterol levels and body weight.
The impressive vitamin C content in grapefruit plays an important role in immune system health. Grapefruit contains many antioxidants , which are compounds that help prevent the formation of harmful free radicals to prevent cell damage and strengthen the body’s resistance to infectious pathogens.
2. How does eating grapefruit help prevent aging?
Grapefruit is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, which are important compounds that help slow the signs of aging by protecting against damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are factors that attack healthy cells, causing premature cell death. It also helps repair damaged skin cells by promoting collagen synthesis .
2.1 Rich in healthy fiber
Grapefruit is a rich source of fiber, including soluble fiber that helps eliminate cholesterol during digestion. By preventing cholesterol from entering the bloodstream, soluble fiber helps reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
Fiber-rich foods are also important for gut health . Fiber helps the digestive system function well and remove toxins from the body more effectively. A healthy digestive system is essential for longevity because it helps the body absorb nutrients more effectively.
Grapefruit is also a low-calorie fruit, which is important for maintaining a healthy weight. Obesity is a major risk factor for many age-related diseases, so eating grapefruit can help make your body healthier.
2.2 Reduce signs of aging
Grapefruit also contains gallic acid, which has anti-aging effects. According to the US National Institutes of Health, healthy foods such as fruit are good sources of nutrients and natural bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties that are associated with preventing aging as well as disorders. other age-related disorders. Gallic acid is a strong antioxidant, found in grapefruit, strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, blueberries… Gallic acid’s antioxidant activity is three times higher than vitamin E or C. .
2.3 Helps the body produce collagen
The high vitamin C content in grapefruit stimulates collagen biosynthesis in the body. According to BS. Tran Thi Bich Nga, specializing in Nutrition, collagen is an essential structural protein in maintaining skin elasticity. This protein is depleted with age, causing wrinkles, sagging and dull skin. Vitamin C is important in collagen production, which will keep skin looking younger and firmer.
Vitamin C also helps protect skin from damage caused by exposure to environmental factors such as UV rays and pollution. At the same time, it helps brighten the skin, inhibits excess melanin production, prevents dark spots, and fades existing dark spots.
Grapefruit also contains vitamin A, which is great for aging skin because it increases skin cell turnover and reduces wrinkles. Grapefruit also contains lycopene which reduces redness and inflammation, making skin healthier.
3. How to choose delicious grapefruit
There are many ways to eat grapefruit such as peeling off the skin and eating it directly, making grapefruit juice, grapefruit smoothies or peeling grapefruit pulp to make shrimp and meat salads… To get juicy, juicy citrus grapefruits, you should Note how to choose as follows:
For Nam Roi grapefruits and green-skinned grapefruits, you should choose grapefruits with shiny, tight and slightly yellow skin, evenly round shape, firm and heavy in the hand, these are juicy, succulent grapefruits. water.
Choose a grapefruit with thin skin: use your finger to flick the grapefruit moderately and you will hear a “clicking” sound, or use your dominant finger to press moderately on the grapefruit and feel it feels stiff.
For Dien grapefruit, choose one that is round, moderately sized, dark yellow in color, and feels heavy in the hand. Choose fruits with thin, smooth skin and small stems. If tanned, they will be sweeter and more fragrant than grapefruits with bright yellow skin. Dien grapefruit from perennial crops will be sweeter and more fragrant than grapefruit from newly planted trees. If newly picked, it needs to be left for about half a month to soak in water to make it sweeter and more fragrant.
