History:  Grapefruits have a rather recent history, having been discovered in Barbados in the 18th century.  Many botanists think the grapefruit was actually the result of a natural cross breeding which occurred between the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and the pomelo (Citrus maxima), a citrus fruit that was brought from Indonesia to Barbados in the 17th century.  The resulting fruit was given the name "grapefruit" in 1814 in Jamaica, a name which reflects the way it's arranged when it grows—hanging in clusters just like grapes.  Grapefruit trees were planted in Florida in the early 19th century, although they were grown only as a novelty and the fruit was little utilized. Even in Jamaica, the trees were often cut down.

Mrs. Mary McDonald Carter of Eustis, Florida, was quoted in the Farm and Livestock Record, Jacksonville, in 1953, as relating that her father, John A. MacDonald, settled in Orange County in 1866. In 1870, he was attracted to a single grapefruit tree with clusters of lemon-colored fruits on the Drawdy property at Blackwater.  He bought the entire crop of fruits, planted the seeds, and established the first grapefruit nursery.  It still took quite a while until the fruit became popular.  In 1962, Florida Citrus Mutual proposed changing the name to something more appealing to consumers in order to stimulate greater sales. There were so many protests from the public against a name change that the idea was abandoned.

Rich in:  Grapefruit is very high in vitamin C and also contains carotenoids; vitamins A, B5, folate, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin; the minerals calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, and potassium; dietary fiber; the amino acids methionine, lysine, and tryptophan; phytochemicals; flavonoids; (antochyanins); and polyphenols.  Grapefruit seeds contain b-sitosteryl-D-glucoside and b-sitosterol.

Internal use:  Vitamin C-rich foods like grapefruit may help reduce cold symptoms or the severity of cold symptoms.  Over twenty scientific studies have suggested that vitamin C is a cold-fighter. Vitamin C also helps to reduce the severity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis; it is beneficial in promoting cardiovascular health and helps to reduce the risk of death from heart disease, stroke, and cancer.  Grapefruit contains phytochemicals, called limonoids, that inhibit tumor formation by promoting the formation of a detoxifying enzyme.  This enzyme sparks a reaction in the liver that helps to make toxic compounds more water soluble for excretion from the body.  In animal studies and laboratory tests with human cells, limonoids have been shown to help fight mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach, and colon cancers.  The pulp of grapefruit contains compounds which may help prevent breast cancer.  A study published in the March 2006 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows that both blond and red grapefruit can reduce blood levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, and red grapefruit lowers triglycerides as well.    A study published in the August 2003 issue of the British Journal of Nutrition found that, for women, drinking ½ to 1 liter of grapefruit juice daily significantly reduced the risk of forming calcium oxalate kidney stones.  The American Chemical Society has found that drinking three glasses of grapefruit juice daily helps to protect against lung and colon cancers by reducing the activity of an enzyme that activates cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke.  Grapefruit juice significantly promotes liver detoxification.  A lab study published in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry reports that a flavonoid naringenin, concentrated in grapefruit, helps repair damaged DNA in human prostate cancer cells.  DNA repair is one of the body's primary defense mechanisms against the development of cancer since it removes potentially cancer-causing mutations in cells.  As prostate cancer often remains undetectable for a long time, enjoying grapefruit regularly may be one way to prevent its progression.  The pulp is also an effective aid in the treatment of urinary disorders.

An essence prepared from the flowers is taken to overcome insomnia and also as a stomachic and cardiac tonic.

One of the most important parts of the grapefruit is its seeds.  Grapefruit seed extract is a powerful natural antibiotic and strong antimicrobial with proven activity against bacteria and fungi.  A study by researchers at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Poland shows that grapefruit seed extract's antibacterial and antioxidant properties calm the gastric tract and speed the healing of stomach ulcers.  The powerful antifungal properties of grapefruit seed extract have made it an important part of successful anti-Candida programs.  Dr Allan Sachs, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and chiropractor, has successfully treated thousands of people.  He says, "With the help of grapefruit seed extract, thousands of individuals have overcome the multiple effects of Candida."  Many of the pharmaceutical drugs that are used to fight Candida have proven quite toxic, especially to the liver.  But the good news is that according to worldwide reports from holistic physicians and thousands of their patients, grapefruit seed extract is one of the best non-toxic remedies for Candida. Dr. Jay Gordon, a highly respected pediatrician practicing in California, states, "I have been in private practice for sixteen years...I discovered grapefruit seed extract about five years ago. We pediatricians treat a lot of oral and cutaneous yeast infections (the latter primarily in the diaper area of infants) and are often frustrated at the difficulty we have in clearing up these common and annoying problems. I now recommend grapefruit seed extract at least three to four times every day to my patients and the response is uniformly positive...Grapefruit seed extract is an excellent formulation which I have found to be completely safe for even the youngest babies in my practice."  To get more information, read: www.positivehealth.com/PERMIT/ARTICLES/Nutrition/candida.htm

How to prepare fresh grapefruits:   Add a tangy spark to your green salads with chopped grapefruit pieces.  For an elegant dessert, spread a little honey over a half grapefruit and broil for 1-2 minutes.  To make a unique salsa, combine diced grapefruit with cilantro and chili peppers.  Or add it to your favorite fruit salad.  Grapefruit sections are often used in gelatins or puddings and tarts.

How to prepare grapefruit seed extract:  The extract should be taken between meals.  If irritating to the digestive tract, it may be taken with meals or in powder form (capsule).  Mix 5-15 drops of extract in a glass of orange juice and drink.  When a cold or flu is attacking, mix 20-50 drops of the extract in a glass of juice and drink.

Good to know:  The fruits should be heavy for their size as this usually indicates that they feature thin skins and therefore a higher concentration of juicier flesh.  Those that have overly rough or wrinkled skin usually tend to be thick skinned and should be avoided.  Since grapefruits are more juicy when they're slightly warm rather than cool, store them at room temperature. If you do not plan to use them within a week, store them in the refrigerator where they will keep fresh for two to three weeks.

External use of grapefruit oil is cold pressed from the peel and is produced mainly in California.  The oil has antibacterial, antidepressant, antiseptic (especially airborne), antitoxic, astringent, depurative, digestive, disinfectant, diuretic, stimulant, and nerve toning properties.   It has a refreshing, fresh, sweet, citrus scent and is pale-yellow to yellow.  Like many citrus rind essential oils, it has fat-dissolving characteristics.  Grapefruit oil is used in case of chills, slow circulation, colds, depression, flu, obesity, acne, cellulite, oily hair and skin, headache, muscle soreness, premenstrual tension, and stress.  Grapefruit enhances the digestive, circulatory, glandular, urinary, and nervous systems.  Mix some drops of grapefruit oil into your favorite body lotion or massage oil for a stimulating lymphatic massage to promote the appearance of smooth, un-dimpled skin, to enhance circulation, and to help regulate healthy body fluid levels.  Grapefruit promotes healthy skin and hair.  It relieves congested and oily skin, having a toning effect on both skin and tissues.  It assists the removal of toxic wastes from the body's cells and helps regulate the balance of water in the tissues.  Grapefruit oil is also used for its cleansing effect on the blood, kidneys, liver, and vascular system and is said to help dissolve gall stones.  The aromatic influence of grapefruit helps decrease appetite and is most valuable when stress is present.  Its uplifting, fresh aroma helps with nervous exhaustion, fatigue, and lethargy.  It helps balance the central nervous system and therefore has a stabilizing effect on manic depression.  Grapefruit oil may help to relieve migraine headaches, jet lag, alcohol, and drug withdrawal.

Do not apply on skin prior to exposure to the sun and do not use on the skin in direct sunlight.

Do not use in case of:  Compounds in grapefruit are known to increase circulating levels of several prescription drugs including statins. For this reason, the risk of muscle toxicity associated with statins may increase when grapefruit is consumed.  Check with your healthcare practitioner if you're taking pharmaceutical drugs with grapefruit juice. Certain pharmaceutical drugs combined with grapefruit juice become more potent.  These interactive drugs include the immunosuppressent cyclosporine and calcium channel blocker drugs, such as felodipine, nifedipine and verapamil.  Other drugs enhanced by grapefruit juice are the antihistamine terfenadine, the hormone estradiol and the antiviral agent saquinavir.  Grapefruit increases the effects of buspirone (Buspar), caffeine, simvastatin, terfenadine, felodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, estradiol, midazolam, tacrolimus, dextromethorphan (significant only at recreational doses), benzodiazepines, and ciclosporin. This effect was responsible for a number of deaths due to overdosing on medication, which led to the identification of these effects.

From Healing Plants & Healing Promises

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