JUICY GRAPEFRUIT

“A grapefruit is just a lemon that saw an opportunity and took advantage of it”.

Oscar Wilde

Grapefruit is one of the most beneficial fruits on the planet. Being very low-calorie, it’s extremely rich in vital antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Eating at least one grapefruit a day can help you stay strong and energized.

Grapefruit (Citrus × paradise) is an evergreen citrus tree that grows in subtropical regions of the world. In fact, it’s a hybrid fruit that appeared in the 18^th century in Barbados as an incidental cross between orange and pomelo. When grapefruit was discovered, people called it the “forbidden fruit”. The tree can grow up to 5-15 meters in height. The leaves are glittery dark green and quite long (about 15 cm). The white flowers usually have four petals. The fruit can be yellow or orange in colour and about 10-15 cm in diameter. The flesh of the fruit is acidic and divided into segments. The flesh can be red, pink or white. Moreover, it can vary in taste from sweet and sour to tangy and bitter (as a rule, red sorts of grapefruit are the sweetest).

Key Components

• Vitamins A and B
• Vitamin С (!)
• Minerals (calcium, phosphorous, potassium, copper, zinc, iron)
• Flavonoids
• Lycopene
• Choline
• Fiber

Interesting Grapefruit Facts

• Grapefruit is considered to be one of the “Seven Wonders of Barbados”.
• The name of the plant is connected with the fact that grapefruits usually grow in clusters which resemble grapes.
• Grapefruit is 91 % water.
• February is renowned as a National Grapefruit Month.
• Red grapefruit is the official fruit of Texas.
• The USA supplies more than 60 % of the world grapefruit production.
• Grapefruits are usually picked by hand, no mechanisms are used for harvesting.

Methods of Use

• Food ingredient
• Juice
• Smoothies
• Capsules and tablets
• Essential oil
• Cosmetics
• Tinctures and extracts

Grapefruit and Banana Smoothie Recipe

What you need:

• 2 red grapefruits
• Juice and marrow of 1 orange
• 2 bananas
• 3 tbsp of Greek yoghurt

Peel and slice the fruits. Mix all the ingredients with a blender until the mixture becomes homogeneous and smooth. Pour this delicious and healthy smoothie into glasses and take pleasure!