Is Grapefruit Safe for People with Diabetes?

Last updated on October 6th, 2022

When it comes to citrus fruits, grapefruit is one of the healthiest for diabetes patients. Other than controlling sugar levels in the body, it also provides many health benefits. It is a low-carb fruit with abundant water and fiber content that improves the functionality of different organs. Let’s know more about this large citrus and healthy fruit.

What is Grapefruit?

Grapefruit, botanical name Citrus x Paradisi, is a large citrus fruit that is a hybrid variety of sweet orange ( C. Sinensis) and the Pomelo (C.maxima). It originated in America and made its way to Asia in the 17th century.
Grapefruit varies in taste and from sour to slightly sweet to bitter. Grapefruits grow on the trees as they are larger than grapes.
China now produces the majority of grapefruit, accounting for more than half of global production. Some other countries that also contribute to the production are the United States, Mexico, and Vietnam. This tasty fruit is available in winter.

Grapefruit and Diabetes

Diabetes is a result of insulin resistance where the body stops responding to the insulin. It causes high blood sugar levels in the body. Insulin resistance is the major reason for type 2 diabetes and it leads to type 2 diabetes.

Grapefruit may control your sugar levels by reducing insulin resistance and can prevent the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It also has a low glycemic index that does not spike the sugar levels in the body. This is a low-carb and high-fiber fruit that is important for keeping a check on your blood sugar and makes it a good food for people with diabetes. So grapefruit is regarded as a healthy fruit for diabetes.

Some studies show that people who eat grapefruit have lower chances of insulin resistance and have controlled sugar levels in the body.

Grapefruit also has a compound called naringin which can help improve glucose tolerance. Especially in those who have type 2 diabetes.

Also Read: C-Reactive Protein Test for Diabetics

Nutritional Value of Grapefruit

Grapefruit, a superfood, is full of nutrients that have multiple health benefits. It is high in water, fiber, antioxidants, and Vitamin C content which are responsible for its benefits. It is good for heart health, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, immunity, kidney, and skin. Grapefruit calories per medium-sized are 52 which makes it a low-carb and low-calorie fruit.

This table represents several nutrients and their amounts present in 100 g of grapefruit:

This vitamin and mineral-packed fruit is a treasure of nutrition with an abundance of health benefits.

Glycemic Index of Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a superfood for diabetes patients because of its low glycemic index. It is 25 that falls under the low glycemic index category. Other than a low GU, it is also high in water, fiber, and antioxidant content with low carbohydrates. This is considered the best fruit for diabetic people with no minimum side effects.

Also Read: Dragon Fruit For Diabetes Patients

Is Grapefruit Good for Diabetic People?

Grapefruit is one of the healthiest foods and snacks for people with diabetes. This is a low glycemic index fruit that has no significant adverse effect on blood sugar levels. This is also a high-fiber fruit that slows the absorption of glucose in the body and releases sugar slowly in the bloodstream thus keeping healthy sugar levels. It reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Grapefruit is also a low-carb fruit that does not increase the carbohydrates and glucose in the body after consumption. Its water content also helps in managing sugar levels in the body.
This is incredibly high in antioxidants that help to reduce risks of diabetes and diabetes-related health complications.
Grapefruit lowers digestion thus keeping a person feeling full for a longer time. It also curbs the munching desire and controls weight gain which is one of the biggest reasons for type 2 diabetes. It blocks the chances of obesity by reducing unnecessary and untimely hunger.

Also Read: Are Sugar-Free Biscuits Safe For Diabetes?

Main Health Benefits of Grapefruit

As we discussed above, this is a low-carb, low GI food with high-fiber, high-water fruit full of vitamins and nutrients. Its nutritional profile aids in many health benefits. Grapefruit benefits include:

Good for Heart Health

Heart disease is an associated complication of type 2 diabetes. Increased blood sugar levels affect heart health adversely. Including grapefruit in the diet can have multiple positive effects on heart functioning. This citrus fruit contains fiber, vitamin c, choline, lycopene, potassium, and other antioxidants. These compounds help in reducing blood pressure and also keep the heart healthy. Potassium improves blood pressure that strengthens heart health. Grapefruit also helps in reducing LDL bad cholesterol levels which keeps a smooth blood flow and allows the heart to function well.

Also Read: Can Diabetes Eat Apricots?

Good for Diabetes

As mentioned above, this is a superfood to add to a diabetic-friendly diet. It is low in Glycemic Index, low in carbohydrates and high in fiber, water, and nutrients. These properties make grapefruit a suitable fruit for people with diabetes. It reduces blood sugar spikes and reduces the risks of type 2 diabetes. This citrus magic also helps in reducing insulin resistance and hence works as a sugar-controlling compound.

Also Read: Is Coconut Milk Good For Diabetes?

Weight Management

This fruit is high in fiber which flowers the digestion and absorption of glucose in the body. Its high-fiber content increases satiety and keeps a person feeling fuller for a long time. It also mitigates the chances of unnecessary munching and controls the weight. It can be a good diet food for people who aspire to lose weight as its water content reduces calorie intake.

Also Read: Is Corn Good For Diabetes?

Boosts Immunity

Your immunity is the power of your body to fight against various infections, inflammations, and diseases. Having grapefruit as your food increases your immunity and boosts your immunity. It contains Vitamin C, a wonderful antioxidant that is responsible to improve your immunity and prevents you from various viral, and bacterial infections, common cold or flu, etc.

It is full of multiple vitamins and minerals other than Vitamin C that collectively work to boost your immunity. Vitamin A fights off inflammation and infections. Other healthy nutrients are copper, zinc, and Vitamin B which help to improve the immune system and keep you ready against infections.

Also Read: Are Peanuts Good For Diabetics?

Reduces Kidney Stone

Grapefruit is a citrus fruit with citric acid. Citric acid flushes out the excess calcium formed in the body which results in kidney stones. It reduces the formation of calcium oxalate which improves kidney function. Grapefruit also manages the pH levels in the urine which helps in reducing the chances of kidney stones.

Also Read: Which Fruits are Good For Diabetes?

Anti-cancer Properties

Grapefruit is an abundant source of Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant that kills free radicals in the body. These free radicals are the reason for cancer. It also contains lycopene antioxidants that reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Including grapefruit in the diet can lower the risk of cancer.

Also Read: Foods and Drink to Avoid for a Diabetic Patients

Good for Digestion

Fibrous food and water intake improve the functioning of the digestive system. Grapefruit is high in both fiber and water content thus helping in improving digestion and reducing the risk of digestion-related conditions like constipation, gastritis, disturbed bowel movements, etc. A fibrous diet also mitigates the possibility of colorectal cancer in the body.

Also Read: Sliding Scale Insulin Therapy for Diabetes

Good for Skin

Vitamin C is the best nutrient to increase skin health. It keeps skin healthy, firm, and radiant and that’s why Vitamin C is used in many beauty products. The reason why vitamin C helps in skin rejuvenation is its role in collagen formation. It induces collagen formation and protects from sun tan and aging.

Also Read: Normal Sugar Level in Womens

Hydrating fruit

It is high in water content that helps to improve overall health. Grapefruit contains 88% water which makes it a good hydrating fruit that aids in holistic health.

Ways to Eat Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a tasty fruit that can be eaten as it is to gain its nutrition. You can include this fruit in multiple ways like:

• Add sliced grapefruit to your salads.
• Eat it as your healthy breakfast. You can have half a grapefruit in your breakfast for better nutrition.
• Mix it in different juices and squashes to enjoy its taste and benefits.
• Mix it with yogurt and have it.
• Can prepare a grapefruit recipe as a fruit cake with grapefruit.

Side-Effects of Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a nutritious fruit with multiple benefits but it can also have some side effects like:
Some medicines react with grapefruit and can be harmful to the body. People who are taking medicines like calcium channel blockers, statins, and a few psychiatric medications should avoid eating grapefruits. With these medicines, grapefruit reacts and filters out these drugs to the bloodstream from the gut swiftly.

Grapefruit is high in potassium which helps in controlling blood pressure and strengthens heart health but the same potassium is harmful to people with kidney infections and conditions. Such people find it difficult to flush out the excess potassium from the body because of their limited kidney functions. This excess potassium in the body can be hazardous to one’s health.

• It is a highly acidic fruit that bothers people with gastroesophageal reflux diseases. High acidic foods can cause heartburn in these people. It also induces puking just after the food intake.
• It also can cause irregular heartbeats. It is due to disturbed electrical current in the heart.
• It also induces sleepiness.

Also Read: A1c Chart for Adults

Conclusion

This citrus superfood is packed with multiple vitamins and minerals. It is a low-carb food with high fiber and high water content. There are many antioxidants present in the body like Vitamin C, lycopene, beta-carotene, flavanones, etc. that help improve heart health, digestive system, immunity, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol levels, skin health, kidney health, etc.
It is good to include this nutritious food in your diabetic diet to prevent type 2 diabetes and achieve a healthy body.

Read More: Top Homeopathic Medicines to Control Diabetes

Reference

FAQs:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-grapefruit
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280882#nutrition
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/health-benefits-grapefruitLast Updated on October 6, 2022 by Dr. Damanjit Duggal