Grapefruit
- Lower Cholesterol and Hearth Disease Risk
Grapefruit lowers cholesterol, heart disease risk
Both blond and red grapefruit can help to lower cholesterol level by reducing the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol, and red grapefruit lowers triglycerides as well, shows a study published in the March 2006 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Israeli researchers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem first tested the antioxidant potential of blond and red grapefruits and their potential to lower cholesterol in humans. The research showed that red grapefruit contains more bioactive compounds and total polyphenols than blond, but both grapefruits are comparable in their content of fiber, phenolic and ascorbic acids, and the flavonoid, naringinen, although red grapefruit contains slightly more flavonoids and anthocyanins.
When consumed daily by humans, both grapefruits appear to lower LDL cholesterol in just 30 days. Blood cholesterol levels were measured at the outset of the trial period and after 30 days in 57 patients, aged 39-72 years, with high cholesterol. These subjects were randomly divided into three equal groups. Those in the first group added red grapefruit to their daily diet; those in the second group supplemented their diet with blond grapefruit, and the third group, acting as a control, ate no grapefruit.
After 30 days, cholesterol levels in both the red and blonde grapefruit groups had dropped significantly. Lower cholesterol level of 15.5% in those eating red grapefruit and 7.6% in those eating blond grapefruit; LDL cholesterol is lower by 20.3% and 10.7% respectively; and triglycerides level lower by 17.2% and 5.6% respectively. No changes were seen in the control group.
Both red and blond grapefruits are found to lower cholesterol levels, but red grapefruit was more than twice as effective, especially in lowering triglycerides. In addition, both grapefruits significantly improved blood levels of protective antioxidants. Red grapefruit's better performance may be due to an as yet unknown antioxidant compound or the synergistic effects of its phytonutrients.
Copyright
© 2003 grapefruit-diet-plan.com