Busting Those Grapefruit Myths
Have you ever asked yourself why a grapefruit is called a “Grapefruit”?
It doesn’t look like a grape. Also, from observation, it looks to be about 10 to 20 times bigger than the average size of a grape and is yellow or orange in color. Many believe that the word comes from the notion that grapefruits grow in clusters like grapes. Even though this may be a popular belief, this isn’t true. In fact, it originated from a Dutch physician named Wouter Schouden who visited Bardados in 1664. He stated that the fruit he ate “tasted like unripe grapes”.
Today, grapefruit is among the 20 best foods to eat for breakfast and is an ideal symbol for diet food. From seeing pictures of grapefruit in health magazines to having celebrities like Brook Shields share that they’ve done the “Grapefruit Diet”, there is no question as to why grapefruit is well-liked and accepted.
Although, this all holds true, there are still myths in need of debunking.
Myth 1: Grapefruit has Super Powerful Enzymes that Break Down Fat
Fact: Due to the numerous properties grapefruit has, it is proven to help your body lose weight. For example, grapefruit provides your body with about 12 grams of fiber when eaten in its entirety. With fiber, your body will feel fuller thus decreasing your calorie intake.
Myth 2: Because of High Sugar Content, People with Diabetes Shouldn’t Eat Grapefruit
Fact: Even though people with diabetes try to stay clear from sugars from candy, cookies or ice cream, grapefruit and other fruits have sugar packed less densely. According to Elvira Isganaitis, a pediatric endocrinologist at Joslin Diabetes Center and a Harvard Medical School instructor, fruits generally cause a lower spike in blood sugar levels, therefore making it less dangerous for people with diabetes. Furthermore, people with diabetes who eat grapefruit daily may be better able to manage their insulin levels resulting in reducing the odds of becoming insulin resistant.
Myth 3: The Bigger the Grapefruit, the Better
Many people tend to focus on size and believe the bigger the fruit, the juicier and riper it is. When in reality, there are many factors to consider when selecting the “best” fruit. More specifically when looking at bigger fruits there is a higher chance that it was genetically modified. Known as genetically modified organisms, GMOs, are easier and faster to produce therefore, leading manufacturers use this technique. Fortunately, you as the consumer can rest assured that there are businesses that follow different techniques when growing their products. Something you can do to make sure you are getting the best grapefruit for your buck is to buy locally. Local businesses tend to use more traditional techniques when compared to major manufacturers.
Myth 4: Eating Grapefruit Can Thin Out Your Blood Cells
Even though many can believe this one, this myth is not true. Firstly, grapefruits are known to aid in high blood pressure through citrus bioflavonoids that help prevent hardening and clogging of arteries. With this help from bioflavonoids, your arteries are to remain healthy and decrease in blood pressure.
Secondly, grapefruits can help lower cholesterol levels due to a specific bioflavonoid called naringenin. It’s known to help activate the liver to destroy particular fats in your body which results in reduction of cholesterol. As a bonus, the high fiber in grapefruit helps to extinguish additional cholesterol eaten through food.
Now when it comes to grapefruit, Texas is no stranger to growing the ripe n’ sweet red grapefruit we know today.
As a matter of fact, The Lone Star State is one of the leading producers and over ninety percent of all Texas citrus comes from the Lower Rio Grande Valley. For when you combine the subtropical climate with fertile soil, it is easily an ideal region to grow the Texas Rio Red grapefruit.
With the Texas grapefruit season about to end in April, there is no doubt that people in and out of Texas are buying grapefruit from Winter SweetzTM.
Nestled deep in the heart of Mission, Texas, Winter SweetzTM has been known to produce the “sweetest Grapefruit on the market” for you and your family. The secret behind the iconic sweetness of the Texas Grapefruit is the time in which the ripening occurs which is during the winter.
So next time you want a boost in your health and are looking for a little sweetness, Winter SweetZTM will undoubtedly meet your needs.