Grapefruits are in Season!
Grapefruits were always one of Jay's favorite fruits. One of the first things I noticed about Jay when I was in his car, were the 'peelings' from Grapefruits, Tangerines and Oranges...oh my goodness....they were all over the floorboard of his white van!
His favorite Grapefruit is the Texas Red Grapefruits. They are very sweet and a bit tart, like a good combination of both.
Grapefruit 'pith' is very important to consume...yet to eat it is difficult, but to juice it is awesome, and even blending Grapefruits with the 'pith' is good too. The pith of the Grapefruit is chock full of bio-available Vitamin C, Rutin and Quercetin.
Benefits of Grapefruit:
Weight Loss
Eating grapefruit contains approximately 100 calories and four grams of fiber. This makes it naturally filling and contains compounds that help reduce appetite. It has a glycemic Index rating of 35 (under 55 is good) so it doesn't spike blood sugar levels. However, when you juice Grapefruits (without the peel of course), the caloric amount is approximately the same and you will lose some fiber, but if you blend it, you would benefit from the fiber, however...it's vital that you chew your blended drinks because fiber without saliva is 'not' good for digestion or absorption.
Detoxification
Grapefruits have historically been known to help the kidneys, urinary system and bladder, plus they can help ease chronic liver conditions, helping to eliminate toxins from the body. They may also help dissolve gallstones, but when combined with oil and garlic in blended form, it highly enhances gall bladder detoxification.
Anti-Cancer
Like tomatoes, red and pink grapefruits contain lycopene, which is a very powerful antioxidant and may help greatly in reducing the risk of prostate cancer. A small glass of grapefruit juice daily may reduce the causing chemicals in tobacco smoke. It also has been known to help ease esophageal cancer. Just please always remember to use as MUCH as you can with the white pith from the Grapefruits. This makes the juice become very thick and creamy like an Orange Julius.
Anti-Inflammatory - High in PH (highly alkaline)
Grapefruit is known as an anti-inflammatory and is therefore helpful with congestion, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other inflammatory disorders. Combine fresh Ginger Root with the Grapefruit juice, and you double up on its high PH.
Our Favorite Juice for Grapefruits! (organic only serves 2)
You can JUICE and / or BLEND this tonic:
3 peeled Grapefruits (Pink or Texas Red)
1 inch fresh Ginger Root
1 large or 2 small Limes (use the peel if organic)
1 large Orange, Peeled
Enjoy!
(from the photo)
1. Oro Blanco
The “white gold” is a cross between a pomelo and a white grapefruit, with bright green to lemon yellow skin, a thick rind, and sweet flesh with almost no bitterness.
2. Red
Supposedly, the redder the flesh, the sweeter the flavor, but we find red grapefruit to be the least complex tasting (and often plenty bitter). On the upside, that color comes from lycopene, a cancer-fighting antioxidant.
3. Pink
The most palatable variety, with a mildly tangy sweetness (great for juicing), pink ones fall between red and white on both the color and sweetness spectrum.
4. Pomelo
It’s said that grapefruits are hybrids of pomelo and orange, so think of this as the granddaddy of them all. Pomelos are large, lime green or yellow, with mellow flesh and a bitter, thick pith that is fabulously easy to peel. The sections hold up well in salads.
5. White
With creamy yellow skin (no pink blush at all), this is the least sweet variety, and also a test kitchen favorite for its sweet-tart balance and intense, vibrant aroma.
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