Grapefruit Smoothie Fitness

Grapefruit is a super power food because it has lots of nutrients and positive effects on the health of the body. Here are a few benefits of grapefruit.

Eating grapefruit may improve heart health

Regularly consuming grapefruit is thought to improve heart health by reducing risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.

In one study, people who ate grapefruit three times daily for 6 weeks experienced significant reductions in blood pressure over the course of the study. They also showed improvements in total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

It’s high in powerful antioxidants

Grapefruit contains a few different antioxidants that provide various health benefits, including a reduced risk of several disease.

Antioxidants protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that may cause harmful reactions in your body.

Most important antioxidants in grapefruit:

• Vitamin C. This is a powerful, water-soluble antioxidant that is present in high amounts in grapefruit. It may protect cells from damage that often leads to heart disease and cancer.
• Beta-carotene. It’s converted into vitamin A in the body and is thought to help reduce the risk of some chronic conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and eye-related disorders like macular degeneration.
• Lycopene. This is known for its potential ability to prevent the development of certain types of cancer, especially prostate cancer. It may also help slow the growth of tumors and decrease the side effects of common cancer treatments.
• Flavanones. Their anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.

Grapefruit has benefits for skin

Grapefruit contains vitamin C, which helps protect the skin against sun damage, aging, and inflammation.

Vitamin C is often used in serums to heal the skin, brighten dark spots, and smooth the skin surface. However, studies also show that an increased intake of vitamin C through foods like grapefruit may help with hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and signs of aging.

Vitamin C helps the body produce more collagen, which has been shown to benefit skin hydration and wrinkles.

Grapefruit also contains citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid. These are all different types of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). AHAs are often used in skin care products due to their variety of benefits, including improved skin texture and elasticity.

Grapefruit Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 red grapefruit, I used Winter Sweetz
• 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
• ⅓ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
• ¼ inch knob of fresh ginger
• toppings: grapefruit segments, berries and granola

Instructions

• Segment grapefruit in a bowl so you can collect all the juice. Set 2-3 segments aside for topping.
• Add grapefruit segments, grapefruit juice, frozen pineapple, Greek yogurt, coconut oil and fresh ginger into a high speed blender and blend until smooth.

Grapefruit super food!