How to Eat a Grapefruit Properly

When buying a grapefruit, most people often wonder how to eat it properly. After all, sometimes even after completely peeling the grapefruit rind while eating the pulp feels unpleasant bitterness. That is why there are rules on how to eat this very interesting citrus fruit. In the article below, we will tell in detail all the instructions, as well as describe in which diseases it is not recommended to eat it.

Grapefruit, in fact, is not so bitter and even quite a pleasant fruit if it is properly peeled. It helps with weight gain, and its unusual, slightly bitter taste helps reduce appetite. When it is consumed correctly, you can replenish your body with vital vitamins and trace elements in a matter of days. However, it is not recommended to use it during treatment and taking various pharmacy drugs, because it is not compatible with them. Because of this, a dangerous allergic reaction can occur later on.

Rules for cleaning grapefruit

Strangely enough, but grapefruit can be eaten even with the peel. Its flesh is so soft that it is easily removed with a special serrated knife. You simply cut the fruit in two and slowly remove the flesh from the skin with a serrated tool, simultaneously extracting the pips. This is the way grapefruit is eaten mostly in restaurants and cafes. But if you do not have such a device, you can replace it with a sharp knife.

Before proceeding to the peeling process, the fruit should be moistened with cold water. This way the moisture will prevent the juice from spraying in different directions, which can get into the eyes, thereby causing discomfort. If the juice gets on the mucous membranes should immediately rinse them with cold water.

With a sharp knife you need to divide the grapefruit into 6 small pieces, so that the blade of the device enters into the deepest depth of the skin of the fruit. The line of intersection should be at the very base of the fruit, from which from the moment of cutting will quickly separate the peel. Such peeling allows you to save large pieces of zest, which can be dried and later used for tea. After peeling the grapefruit pulp, it is advisable to free the grapefruit pulp from the existing white film.

The film, which covers the reddish particles of pulp, can also be quickly and easily removed. It is this film that gives the fruit a bitter aftertaste, which can be felt due to the pinic acid and glycosides it contains. However, these, at first glance, harmful substances have their pluses: they help to burn extra fat cells. So if you consume grapefruit only for the purpose of weight loss, then this film can not be removed.

Grapefruit and medications

Many pharmaceutical studies have found that grapefruit and medications are not compatible. This citrus fruit has furanocoumarin in its composition, which, when ingested, passes through the liver and activates the motility of hepatocytes. At this time, the liver cells quickly begin to process this substance. If a person does not have any liver disease, then furanocoumarin will not cause much harm and after a few hours it will simply be eliminated from the body with metabolites. In the case of any diseases and during the course of treatment, the active substances of the new drugs simply will not be retained in hepatocytes.

In some cases, all this can lead to a severe drug overdose, because the plasma concentration will increase the total dosage and will not be able to be excreted from the body without processing. And sometimes hepatocytes simply cannot produce the necessary metabolites that would contribute to the medication effect. In this case, the treatment simply will not give the desired positive result.

In no case you should not combine the use of grapefruit with such medications:

1. Various statins, which help reduce cholesterol. Furanocoumarin from the citrus increases the toxic properties of the drugs, due to which even a lethal outcome is possible. In case of slight intoxication there is sometimes liver failure, myopathy and stomach upset.
2. All antibacterial agents containing paracetamol. The main substance in grapefruit slows cytochrome P450 activity, thereby increasing the toxicity and harm of paracetamol.
3. Medications from immunosuppressants and immunomodulators that help with various HIV problems.
4. Drugs to treat many cardiovascular diseases. This fruit increases the chance of coronary disease, as well as atherosclerosis and some vascular pathologies.
5. Medications for hypertension. It is not recommended to consume grapefruit simultaneously with antihypertensive drugs, because there is a high risk of dangerous side effects. In most cases a hypertensive crisis may occur.
6. Drugs on the list of antidepressants, psychotics and neuroleptics.
7. Drugs containing methadone.
8. Drugs for erectile dysfunction.
9. Medications from the list of anticancer drugs.

During any therapeutic course, grapefruit can be consumed, in fact, but only 4 hours before taking the medication. After taking any pill, it is better to put the citrus in the refrigerator. Contraindications to the use of grapefruit with various contraceptives have also been revealed: furanocoumarin neutralizes the effect of such drugs, from which pregnancy can occur.

With other, not specified in the list of drugs, grapefruit can be eaten. So before eating this citrus, it is necessary to have a consultation with your doctor. And, of course, be sure to read the instructions before consuming any medication.

What foods should not be combined with grapefruit

Of all known citrus fruits, only grapefruit contains furanocoumarin. It is for this reason, the consumption of the fruit should be strictly controlled not only with the intake of certain medications, but also with the following foods:

1. Many types of nuts.
2. Foods with a high starch content, such as potatoes, flour, confectionery, jelly sweets.
3. Milk and dairy products.
4. Legumes.

Important! It is obligatory to observe all the requirements for combining grapefruit with drugs and products, because furanocoumarin is highly dangerous for the human body. This substance can cause death.

General recommendations and tips

The citrus with red pulp is completely incompatible with many medicines and foods, but sometimes the contraindication can become a disease itself. Because of the high content of organic acids, people with stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, various types of gastritis, and chronic heartburn should not consume citrus. Sourly bitter citrus can only worsen the condition. After consuming grapefruit, the acidity of gastric juice increases by several percent, and from this the stomach acid can strongly eat through the walls of the stomach, thereby provoking the development of a perforative ulcer.

Also, grapefruit is not recommended for people with diabetes. The active ingredients and acids of the citrus greatly reduce the percentage of glucose in the blood.

Recommendations for consuming grapefruit

Many nutritionists advise people to be sure to follow some tips on the proper consumption of citrus, at the same time contributing to the reduction of excess weight. Here are some of them:

1. For people with hyperacidity of the stomach, it is better to eat grapefruit after a meal or to divide the norm of citrus into several intakes, for example, one small part to eat before a meal, the second - after.
2. When following the grapefruit diet, you should drink 100 ml of its juice on an empty stomach. However, people with peptic ulcer disease are completely prohibited to drink grapefruit juice. If there is the same disease, the consumption of fruit is allowed only in the morning. In the daily diet, be sure to limit yourself to eat this citrus: allowed to eat only two small slices of grapefruit, while clearing them of the foil.
3. In case of evening hunger, you can eat a couple of grapefruit wedges, which will quickly reduce your appetite. Also this citrus will be able not only to neutralize hunger, but also to adjust the process of digestion in the stomach. And to get rid of excess weight it is recommended to consume grapefruit juice before going to bed or during dinner.
4. In the morning, you can serve grapefruit juice for breakfast. The active ingredients will dull the hunger, thus you can feel awake and not think about food until dinner.
5. During many diets you should drink 1.5 liters of grapefruit juice a day, which should be stirred with sugar in advance and diluted with a little water. In non-concentrated form is allowed to drink such a juice almost everyone throughout the diet.
6. It is forbidden to drink grapefruit during frequent physical exertion, that is, before or after long workouts. It is possible to eat grapefruit 25 minutes before or 45 minutes after physical activity.
7. The most important thing is to consume grapefruit according to all the rules, so as not to bring yourself and your body significant damage. During various diets it will be enough to eat 1-2 fruits a day. But you have to do it regularly, without skipping a single day. Only then can you achieve the desired result. And after 3-4 days of consumption of grapefruit or its juice you should take small breaks for 2 days.
8. The right time to eat grapefruit is from the end of June to the end of September. The optimal temperature of the grapefruit when consuming should be equal to room temperature. This way all the vitamins and nutrients are well preserved. This is especially important during the diet.
9. Sources of folk medicine recommend eating one grapefruit or drinking its juice every morning. You should not wash it down with milk or kefir, as this can cause a laxative effect. As described above, the combination of grapefruit and dairy products is very harmful to the digestive system. The laxative effect leads to a significant loss of vitamins and nutrients, and the development of chronic heartburn.
10. Some nutritionists advise consuming exclusively concentrated grapefruit juice only in the evening, before bedtime. The main thing is to rinse your mouth with clean water after drinking it, to neutralize the negative effect of acid on the gums and teeth.

In the case of poor internal state, the appearance of abdominal pain and heartburn, you should stop eating this citrus. You can reduce the pain with freshly brewed hot black tea, lightly sweetened with sugar or honey. This tea should be drunk straight hot and after it eat a few dry grains of rice.

And in conclusion, it is worth adding that grapefruit can be eaten, even it is necessary, but before this, be sure to consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examination in the presence of chronic diseases to avoid further irreparable consequences.