Mit Grapefruits zur Wunschfigur? – Darum sind sie so wertvoll

"Sour makes you happy and bitter makes you slim." This or something similar could be an advertising slogan for grapefruits. In fact, the admittedly unusually bitter fruit is a real insider tip as a superfood. Yet it is precisely the bitter substances it contains that make grapefruit so healthy. We would like to tell you why you literally need grapefruit if you want to lose weight.

5 good reasons why grapefruits are so healthy

Grapefruit is a citrus fruit, just like lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit. It is probably a no-brainer that citrus fruits are healthy due to their high vitamin C content alone and can have positive effects on your body. This has long been proven by numerous studies. However, the high vitamin C content is by no means the only reason why grapefruit is healthy and can help you lose weight. Here are five other key reasons:

1. natural appetite suppressant
One of the biggest enemies of your will to lose weight is hunger. Many a diet has already fallen victim to the hunger spiral. However, it is the bitter substances contained in grapefruit that act as a natural appetite suppressant. The substance that everything revolves around is naringin.

You can easily tell how high the naringin content is by looking at the peel of the grapefruit. The yellower the peel, the higher the concentration of the bitter substance. And the best thing is: half a fruit already leads to a longer-lasting feeling of satiety and less desire for sweets.

2. stimulation of fat burning
Optimal fat burning is the key to sustainable weight loss. The combination of vitamin C and the bitter substances in grapefruit can do just that. As an antioxidant and radical scavenger, vitamin C not only boosts the immune system, but also stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline.

Among other things, this is responsible for the release of fatty acids from the cells. The optimization of fat burning is also supported by the bitter substance naringin, which also promotes fat burning and helps to regulate blood sugar levels.

3. digestive support through dietary fiber
Water-soluble fibers are enormously valuable helpers if you want to lose weight. Grapefruits also contain large amounts of pectin. Compared to non-water-soluble fiber from whole grain products, this does not swell in the stomach and intestines.

Their positive effect is therefore not due to the expansion of their mass and the associated satiety effect, but rather to their capacity as a nutrient for intestinal bacteria. This is extremely important, because the healthier your intestinal flora is, the better your digestion works. This means that nutrients are absorbed more efficiently and your blood sugar level fluctuates less.

4th vitamin bomb that is second to none
Grapefruit is at the top end of the vitamin bomb escalation scale. The vitamin C content alone is impressive at 44 milligrams per 100 grams. By comparison, an apple contains just 12 milligrams and 100 grams of raspberries contain 22 milligrams.

In addition to vitamin C, grapefruits also contain large amounts of vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, calcium and potassium. There is also the red plant pigment lycopene, which fights free radicals and thus prevents damage to your body cells.

5. hardly any calorie bonus
The fifth reason why grapefruits can help you lose weight is simple: they contain hardly any calories. Compared to other fruits such as bananas (approx. 120 kcal) or a portion of grapes (approx. 170 kcal), the same amount of grapefruit only contains around 60 kcal. Another advantage: as grapefruit is bitter and tart instead of sweet compared to other fruits, the urge to eat is reduced. This also saves calories.

How can I eat a grapefruit?

So grapefruits are a great thing. They are healthy and can even help you lose weight. But how do you eat a grapefruit? You have several options:

You can simply cut open the grapefruit and scoop it out. Alternatively, you can peel the fruit by cutting into the skin with a knife and simply remove the flesh in a similar way to a mandarin orange.

However, the easiest way to integrate grapefruit into your daily diet is as a juice. Simply cut the fruit in half and squeeze it using a juicer. You can mix the resulting juice into a delicious spritzer.

Is grapefruit extract a sensible alternative?

Grapefruit extract is already available to buy in the form of capsules and tablets. Even if there are some studies that confirm that the extracts have at least a limited positive effect, nothing is better than the real fruit. Grapefruit extract is therefore not really a sensible alternative to grapefruit. Exception: you absolutely cannot cope with the sour-bitter aroma of the fruit.

Is there anything else I need to consider?

Yes, it is true that not everyone can simply indulge in grapefruits on a whim. Around 80 medications are currently known to interact with the ingredients of grapefruit. In addition to some anticoagulants, these include some sleeping pills, antidepressants and birth control pills.

Fortunately, the pill does not lose its effectiveness. However, interactions can sometimes lead to significant side effects. So if you are taking such medication, we recommend that you first consult your doctor before adding grapefruit to your diet on a regular basis.