Grapefruit!
The grapefruit, a relatively new fruit, is a naturally occurring hybrid from the pomelo and the sweet orange. It was first called the shaddock or the shattuck because it was introduced to many people by Captain Shaddock. It was popularized in the 19th Century after being “discovered” in Barbados in the late 18th Century. It was later called “the forbidden fruit” before becoming commonly known as the grapefruit due to its growth in clusters like grapes.
The grapefruit has been successfully used in diets and cleanses for many, many years. Scientific research has found multiple advantages as well!
NUTRIENTS:
The grapefruit is rich in beneficial nutrients including fiber, minerals, enzymes, fatty acids and amino acids. Grapefruits are teeming with vitamins A, B complex, E, and K and are especially well-known for their high Vitamin C content! Less well-known are its phytonutrients called limonoids, antioxidants, lycopene and naringenin. Did you know that not only bananas are able to boast high levels of potassium? This wonder fruit, which is most commonly found in the white or pink varieties, also abounds in folate, citric acid, flavonoids, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and glucarates.
Okay, so grapefruit have all of these fantastic ingredients… so what? What does this actually DO for the consumer?
HEALTH BENEFITS:
The LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX aids in stabilizing blood sugars and even prevents diabetes.
STIMULATES LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
RELIEVES SORE THROATS AND COUGHS
IMPROVES CIRCULATION
METABOLIZES FAT
LOWERS CHOLESTEROL
STRENGTHENS ARTERIES
IMPROVES DIGESTION
The REMOVAL OF EXCESS ESTROGEN prevents breast cancer.
REDUCES AND CAN EVEN AID IN THE REMOVAL OF KIDNEY AND GALL STONES
PROMOTES COLON HEALTH
BOOSTS LIVER ENZYMES
NARINGENIN REPAIRS DNA
The detoxifying properties clear carcinogens from the body.
PRODUCTS:
Besides the fleshy fruit that we typically eat the grapefruit yields a tangy citrus juice. There are also many benefits from the peel, pulp and seeds. Essential oils such as limonene, citral and pinene can be extracted from the peels to be used in aromatherapy. The peel also contains large amounts of dietary fiber. The seed and pulp are used in cattle feed as well as in many human applications.
GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT/GSE:
Grapefruit Seed Extract is a bitter liquid with sweet rewards. It is purported to aid in the healing of wounds, candidiasis, throat infections, stomach ailments and more. It is hypo-allergenic with few (if any) side-effects. It is inexpensive and can be used daily for long periods of time. It raises the pH, which is helpful since many degenerative diseases effect the patient by lowering or causing an imbalance of the pH.
While GSE is ineffective against some feline diseases, it is a strong anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-parasitical for humans and most pets. It also is great at killing “bad” bacteria, while promoting the health and growth of “good” bacteria/flora in the intestinal tract and stomach.
GSE USES:
DISINFECTANT
HOUSEHOLD CLEANER
PREVENTS WATER and FOOD-BORNE ILLNESSES (particularly good when travelling)
USEFUL AS A NATURAL INSECTICIDE
A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VEGGIE WASH
WOUND CARE (EVEN SCARS)
REMOVES SKIN BACTERIA (ACNE WASH)
CAUTIONS:
If you are taking medications, make sure they do not adversely interact with grapefruits. Never take meds with a glass of grapefruit juice and make sure to read up on your meds and discuss any possible concerns with a doctor or pharmacist. Some medications, such as Blood Pressure meds, have been found to have IMPROVED absorption while in taking grapefruit products, but some medications are made ineffective by the same products.
Additionally, according to juicing-for-health.com “Excessive consumption of any citrus juices can leach calcium from the body system, causing decay of the bones and teeth.”
PREPARATION IDEAS:
Even if you are not intending to use the grapefruit peel, you should still wash the fruit in cool water before cutting to prevent anything on the peel from entering the flesh of the fruit. This is true of all fruit and vegetable preparation.
Grapefruit can be peeled and eaten like an orange or cut in half and cut into wedges and eaten with a spoon. You can even purchase spoons with serrated edges made just for eating grapefruit! You might want to beware of being squirted in the eye though! This popular method of eating grapefruit has often resulted in a juicy surprise!
In asking friends how they like to eat grapefruit quite a few were in the practice of sprinkling them with one of the following toppings:
Sugar
Brown sugar
Cinnamon-sugar
Powdered sugar
I’ve been told that if you drizzle honey on the cut fruit and broil it or warm it in a toaster oven for 2-4 minutes it makes a delicious dessert and can be served warm with a fresh sprig of mint! Doesn’t that sound just divine? I’ve also been told that if you let the sweetener soak into the fruit for 5 minutes or more before eating that improves the flavor even more!
Grapefruit is delicious in a green salad with chicken and coconut for a tropical flair or gives a wonderful zip to any fruit salad or compote! Grapefruit chutney or salsa is a cool and refreshing dip and it was even suggested to me that grapefruit might be good frozen into popsicles or ice cubes to add flavor to a beverage. YUM! My mouth is watering just THINKING ABOUT it!
Toronja Rellena is a sweetened grapefruit stuffed with honey and dolce de leche is a snack usually sold along the roadside on weekends in Central America. I’d love to try that someday!
RECIPES:
Winter Fruit Bowl
"This fruit salad goes well with any meat dish. The blend of grapefruit and cranberries gives it a tangy flavor-- and a pretty holiday look."
Grapefruit Pie
This recipe was given to me by my friend, Elizabeth King!
2 cups graham crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons grated grapefruit rind
5 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup grapefruit juice
1/3 cup butter, chopped
2 1/2 cups whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
Mix graham crumbs, melted butter and rind. Press over the base of a spring form pan. Mix eggs and 2/3 cup sugar in the top of a double boiler. Whisk and cook until thick and creamy. Add juice and chopped butter. Whisk until slightly thickened. Cover. Cool to room temperature. Whip 1 1/4 cups cream and beat it into the mixture. Poor this filling over the crust. Bake at 350 for 1 hour, or until set. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate several hours. Beat 1 1/4 cups cream and 2 tablespoons sugar. Spread over top. Decorate with sprinkles or toasted almonds, etc.
Mrs. Brown is a GGM contributor and owner of a small custom crocheting business/ministry named Bundled In Prayer. She enjoys Bible study, writing, scrapbooking, sewing, reading and more. She is happily married to her best friend, Russ and is in her 12th year of homeschooling her five children.
Thanksgiving dinner just a few weeks before his death. As I found out about this, I turned to my dad and told him that I wanted to have people over, who didn't have any family, every year at Thanksgiving. We have been doing that ever since. I enjoy it so much. All of our family lives so far away that, we sort of adopt different people every year, whose family is not alive, or is also too far away.
