Most people either love them or hate them, but grapefruit is a great addition to the diet. Texas Red Grapefruit are sweet, juicy and tree-ripened, literally stored on the tree to peak of perfection. Grapefruit season is between October and May which means you can get the best grapefruits during these months. Like other citrus fruits, grapefruit is an amazing source of vitamin C which boosts the immune system and serves as an effective antioxidant. Grapefruit offers many other perks as well:
• Grapefruit contains high amounts of pectin, a soluble fiber than can aid in lowering cholesterol levels. According to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, eating one grapefruit a day could lower levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) by as much as 15%.
• Pink and red varieties of grapefruit contain high amounts of lycopene, the antioxidant superstar most commonly found in tomatoes. Studies of lycopene have shown that it may have awesome immune-boosting abilities. It’s even thought to exhibit anti-cancer properties as well. On top of that, research indicated that men who consume foods high in lycopene were 82% less likely to develop prostate cancer.
• Grapefruit is a verified fat-buster. Studies at the Metabolic Research Center in Scripps Clinic found that the grapefruit diet is no myth. Consuming grapefruit juice does in fact aid in weight loss. The magic lies in grapefruit’s ability to reduce insulin levels in blood and thus the body’s ability to store fat. The grapefruit diet is considered a “designer diet” and therefore, I cannot promote it. Please don’t eat only grapefruit. You need nutrients from many other food sources as well. However, a splash of grapefruit in your regular routine is an excellent supplement to your health. It is recommended that you actually eat the grapefruit instead of juicing it so that you don’t miss out on all of that LDL-lowering fiber we talked about earlier.
So how do you pick the perfect Texas grapefruit? Look for a Texas Sticker on the fruit. Choose a grapefruit with a red blushed skin that feels heavy for its size. Heavy fruit means lots of juice. “Tropical Beauty Marks” or blemishes are caused by gentle breezes and don’t affect the fruit inside. Store grapefruit in a cool area for up to 2 weeks or in your refrigerator for up to 6 weeks. One medium grapefruit equals 120 calories; 2/3 cup juice; 1 cup bite sized pieces; 10-12 sections and 3-4 tablespoons grated peel.
Grapefruit Chicken Salad:
2 Texas Rio Star Grapefruit, sliced ¼ cup mayonnaise
1 ½ cups cubed cooked chicken meat salt and pepper
¼ cup finely chopped celery paprika
¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped lettuce leaves
1 green onion, thinly sliced
Cut and peel off of grapefruit, and slice. Mix together chicken, celery, bell pepper, onion and mayonnaise. Season to taste. Place grapefruit slices on lettuce leaves and top with a mound of chicken salad. Chill until ready to serve.
