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Grapefruit

Overview

Grapefruit is a citrus fruit. People use the fruit, oil from the peel, and extracts from the seed as medicine. Grapefruit seed extract is processed from grapefruit seeds and pulp obtained as a byproduct from grapefruit juice production. Vegetable glycerin is added to the final product to reduce acidity and bitterness.

Grapefruit is commonly taken by mouth for weight loss. It is also used for asthma, high cholesterol, cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.

In food and beverages, grapefruit is consumed as a fruit, juice, and is used as a flavoring component.

In manufacturing, grapefruit oil and seed extract are used as a fragrance component in soaps and cosmetics; and as a household cleaner for fruits, vegetables, meats, kitchen surfaces, dishes, and others.

In agriculture, grapefruit seed extract is used to kill bacteria and fungus, fight mold growth, kill parasites in animal feeds, preserve food and disinfect water.

It's important to remember that drug interactions with grapefruit juice are well documented. The chemistry of the grapefruit varies by the species, the growing conditions, and the process used to extract the juice. Before adding grapefruit to your diet or your list of natural medicines, check with your healthcare provider if you take medications.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Citrus fruit

Primary Functions:

Weight loss

Also Known As:

Agrume, Bioflavonoid Complex, Bioflavonoid Concentrate

How Does It Work?

Grapefruit is a source of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, pectin, and other nutrients. Some components might have antioxidant effects that might help protect cells from damage or reduce cholesterol.

It is not clear how the oil might work for medicinal uses.

Uses

  • Taking a specific product containing sweet orange, blood orange, and grapefruit extracts seems to decrease body weight and body fat in overweight people. Some research also shows that eating fresh grapefruit daily increases weight loss in overweight people.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

  • For obesity: 450-700 mg of a specific product containing sweet orange, blood orange, and grapefruit extracts twice daily for 12 weeks has been used. Eating half a grapefruit three times daily, drinking 8 ounces of grapefruit juice three times daily, or taking capsules containing freeze-dried whole grapefruit 500 mg three times before meals for 12 weeks has also been used.

Grapefruit Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

Does grapefruit interact with supplements?

Some medications are moved by pumps in cells. Grapefruit might change how these pumps work and decrease how much of some medications get absorbed by the body. This could make these medications less effective. To avoid this interaction, separate taking these medications from consuming grapefruit by at least 4 hours.

What is grapefruit extract good for?

Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is promoted for various health benefits, such as fighting infections or protecting against tissue damage, oxidative stress and even heart disease.

What meds should not be taken with grapefruit?

Grapefruit increases the blood levels of three common statins substantially, increasing the risk of rhabdomyolysis ( 4 ): Atorvastatin (Lipitor) Lovastatin (Mevacor) Simvastatin (Zocor)

What drugs are affected by grapefruit?

Examples of some of the most common grapefruit or grapefruit juice drug interactions that can occur include:

  • aliskiren (Tekturna) - also apple juice, orange juice.
  • alprazolam (Xanax)
  • amiodarone (Pacerone)
  • atorvastatin(Lipitor)
  • carbamazepine (Tegretol)
  • cilostazol (Pletal)
  • clarithromycin (Biaxin)

Who should not eat grapefruit?

Not all medicines interact with grapefruit, but many commonly prescribed medicines do. Examples include medicines to treat: High cholesterol: atorvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin (Note: pravastatin does not interact with grapefruit) High blood pressure: felodipine, nifedipine, nimodipine and nisoldipine.

What is the side effect of grapefruit?

The body breaks down scopolamine to get rid of it. Grapefruit juice can decrease how fast the body breaks down scopolamine. Drinking grapefruit juice while taking scopolamine might increase the effects and side effects of scopolamine. Sedative medications can cause sleepiness and drowsiness.

Is grapefruit seed extract anti inflammatory?

In fact, GSE is one of the best-known sources of proanthocyanidins ( 1 , 2 ). Due to its high antioxidant content, GSE can help prevent disease and protect against oxidative stress, tissue damage, and inflammation ( 3 ).

Will grapefruit seed extract kill viruses?

GSE is a potential novel disinfectant against viruses and bacteria, effective even within a short contact time. Due to globalization, there are higher chances of the spread of zoonotic diseases by contagion.

Is grapefruit bad for your liver?

Grapefruit

Grapefruit contains antioxidants that naturally protect the liver. Studies have also shown that these antioxidants can reduce the development of hepatic fibrosis, a harmful condition in which excessive connective tissue builds up in the liver.

When should you not eat grapefruit?

“When there is too much drug in the blood, you may have more side effects.” For example, if you drink a lot of grapefruit juice while taking certain statin drugs to lower cholesterol, too much of the drug may stay in your body, increasing your risk for liver and muscle damage that can lead to kidney failure.

What blood pressure meds can you not eat grapefruit?

However, the following four blood pressure medications should be used cautiously:

  • Nifedipine (Procardia)
  • Losartan (Cozaar)
  • Eplerenone (Inspra)

Why can't you eat grapefruit with antidepressants?

Essentially, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and other citrus fruits contain furanocoumarins, a type of chemical that can affect drug metabolism, affecting the enzyme in our bodies that breaks down antidepressants. A more 'active' drug is present in the body than was intended with the given dose.

Is it OK to eat grapefruit everyday?

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 six weeks experienced significant reductions in blood pressure over the course of the study.

Why can't you eat grapefruit with meds?

Some drugs, like statins used to lower cholesterol, are broken down by enzymes. As shown above, grapefruit juice can block the action of these enzymes, increasing the amount of drug in the body and may cause more side effects.

Why is grapefruit bad for high blood pressure?

Calcium channel blockers

They're used as part of the treatment of conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and coronary heart disease. Grapefruit juice interacts with some calcium channel blockers and increases the level of the medicine in your blood.

Why is grapefruit bad for your heart?

They're used as part of the treatment of conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and coronary heart disease. Grapefruit juice interacts with some calcium channel blockers and increases the level of the medicine in your blood.

Is grapefruit good for losing weight?

Grapefruit can be part of a healthy weight loss diet because it's nutritious, not because of any mysterious fat-burning properties. A half grapefruit or a glass of grapefruit juice before meals may help fill you up, so you'll eat fewer calories at meals and potentially lose weight.

What is grapefruit good for sexually?

Grapefruit. For men, certain foods can enhance and protect their reproductive health. Grapefruit and other citrus fruits are full of antioxidants, vitamin C, and folic acid all support sexual reproduction among men.

Why is grapefruit bad for you?

Many drugs are broken down (metabolized) with the help of a vital enzyme called CYP3A4 in the small intestine. Grapefruit juice can block the action of CYP3A4, so instead of being metabolized, more of the drug enters the blood and stays in the body longer. The result: too much drug in your body.

Is grapefruit bad for your skin?

Packed with antioxidants which help to combat free radicals the skin may be exposed to, grapefruits are vitamin powerhouses for the skin. Free radicals, naturally occurring in pollution and sunlight, can be detrimental to the skin as they attach onto and mutate healthy skin cells.

Does grapefruit make you poop?

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits and mandarins are a refreshing snack and a good source of fiber. Citrus fruits are also rich in the soluble fiber pectin, especially in the peel. Pectin can accelerate colonic transit time and reduce constipation.

Can you take grapefruit seed extract everyday?

However, there has been no further research, and this study dates back to 1990. Taking oral supplements can help treat widespread candidiasis of the skin, though applying grapefruit seed extract topically may also work well. Take up to three capsules, or 10 to 20 drops of liquid concentrate, daily.

Clinical Studies