Grapefruit and Blood Pressure: What You Need to Know
Here at Winter Sweetz, we love grapefruits, and there are lots of awesome reasons why! One of the biggest reasons we love this tasty fruit is because of the fantastic benefits it can have for your health, including your heart and blood pressure levels.
Still, you don’t have to take our word for it that grapefruit is good for your health. Keep reading to learn more and check out the evidence for yourself!
Remember to talk to your doctor before making significant changes to your diet, especially if you have or think you may have high blood pressure or other heart problems.
Does Grapefruit Lower Blood Pressure? Get the Proof
So, does eating fresh grapefruit actually help decrease blood pressure? The short answer is: yes! Grapefruit is packed full of both potassium and fiber, both of which can help lower high blood pressure. In studies on mice, low-potassium diets led to high blood pressure, and studies on humans have shown that potassium can help treat high blood pressure in those with hypertension.
In addition to studies on the nutrients found within grapefruits, studies have also been conducted on the specific effects of grapefruit on blood pressure and health. In one 2016 study utilizing three randomized controlled trials, eating grapefruit was shown to have a significant effect on systolic blood pressure. Another study from 2011 showed significant reductions in both blood pressure and weight.
Grapefruit and Medications
Another essential thing that you need to keep in mind when it comes to the relationship between grapefruits and blood pressure is the effects of grapefruits on certain medications. In particular, grapefruits can interact with the effects of statins, calcium channel blockers, drugs that treat abnormal heart rhythms, and anti-anxiety drugs. If you are on any of these types of drugs, or you’re taking any other medications, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist before adding grapefruits or fruit juice to your diet. They can give you the specific medical advice you need to keep yourself healthy.
How Does Eating Grapefruit Impact Heart Health?
If you’re looking for a way to boost your heart health, drinking grapefruit juice or adding fresh grapefruits to your diet is a great way to benefit your heart while satisfying your taste buds! Just a few of the awesome ways grapefruit can help your heart health include:
- Reduce Risk of Heart Disease – Grapefruit helps reduce your cholesterol levels, helping to reduce your risk of heart disease.
- Reduce Risk of Stroke – Grapefruit helps combat the cholesterol build-ups that can lead to strokes.
- Combat Excess Weight – Eating grapefruit can help you lose excess weight, which is linked to improved heart health.
- Help Prevent Blood Clots – A 2012 study showed that drinking grapefruit juice helped enhance the effectiveness of blood clot medications.
As if those weren’t enough reasons to love grapefruit, eating this delicious fruit has also been shown to help with erectile dysfunction, another issue often linked to heart health.
Orange Grapefruit Smoothie Recipe for Heart Health
If you’re a lover of citrus fruits, you’re sure to enjoy this grapefruit smoothie. Not only is it a great source of vitamin C, it’s also a delicious treat! This fabulous recipe uses the entire fruit, so you’re sure to get a full dose of heart-healthy fruit!
The Ingredients
- 1 Rio red medium grapefruit, peeled and sliced
- 1 frozen banana, chopped
- 1 orange, peeled and sliced
- 8 baby carrots
- ¾ cup of water or milk alternative
Blend your mixture until you achieve a smooth consistency, and enjoy!
Support a Healthy Diet With Rio Red Grapefruit from Winter Sweetz!
Eating grapefruits or drinking grapefruit juice has been shown to help reduce high blood pressure and improve heart health. What more can you ask for? We’ll tell you: it’s also the tastiest fruit your money can buy!
Don’t settle for less when it comes to your diet. Our Texas Rio red grapefruit may be out of season, but they’ll be back before you know it! Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed!
If you’re looking for a healthy treat to add to your diet, sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when our grapefruits are back in stock!
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