Grapefruit: who should not eat it, benefits and harms. Exclusive

With the onset of winter, store shelves are increasingly stocked with citrus fruits, including grapefruit. Most people know this fruit as one that helps to lose weight. But the beneficial properties of this citrus fruit do not end there.

In an exclusive commentary for OBOZREVATEL, Victoria Stelmakh, founder of the largest Ukrainian-language Facebook group on complementary foods and baby food expert, spoke about the benefits and harms of grapefruit.

The expert highlights the following beneficial properties of the citrus fruit :

• Low-calorie.
• A source of vitamins A and C.
• It has a low glycemic index, thus providing the body with nutrients.
• It improves blood pressure, promotes heart health, and reduces the risk of ischemic stroke in women.

It is safe to say that citrus fruits are a very important part of the diet of both adults and children. However, grapefruit has one important caveat - citrus juice can interact with some medications that doctors use to treat arthritis. Therefore, people undergoing treatment should consult a doctor before including it in their diet.

Top 5 tips on how to choose a grapefruit

1. The deeper the color, the richer the flavor.

2. The perfect shape. When choosing a citrus fruit, it is important to examine the place where the stem and tail of the grapefruit were. Do the same on the opposite side. An even oval shape indicates that the citrus fruit is ripe.

3. Peel. The peel of a ripe grapefruit has many small dimples, but it is very smooth to the touch. These dimples are a sign of ripeness.

4. Size and weight. It is important to choose only citrus that is large and heavy.

5. Touch. If, when pressed, the grapefruit peel returns to its original position, this is also a sign of ripeness.