Disease Proof

On February 21st Nicholas Bakalar of The New York Times reported that an upcoming study in The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry claims that ruby red grapefruits will "most probably" help anyone with high blood pressure. Even though researchers aren't sure what makes ruby red grapefruits so special:

The researchers tested 57 patients ages 39 to 72 who had undergone coronary bypass surgery and had found that Zocor, or simvastatin, was ineffective. They divided them randomly into three groups.

Each group consumed the same diet, except that one ate one red grapefruit daily, the second ate one white grapefruit, and the third ate no grapefruit at all. None took lipid-lowering drugs during the test.

After one month, there were no differences in the heart rate, blood pressure or weight of the three groups. Antioxidant activity in both white and red groups was increased compared with the group that ate no grapefruit.

But the group that ate red grapefruit every day also had significantly decreased blood levels of triglycerides.

Dr. Fuhrman reacts:

Grapefruits are a wonder food. I have recommended my overweight and diabetic patients eat grapefruits, kiwis, berries, pomegranates, and apples for years. These foods have protective effects against heart attacks and cancer and promote weight loss. When foods promote weight lost they aid in the recovery from diabetes. These fruits should not be avoided because they contain sugar. I have hundreds of patients who no longer have diabetes and who have reached that milestone because they have included these healthful weight-loss-promoting fruits in their diet.

Grapefruits also get a bad rap because they have naturally occurring substances such as naringin and naringenin, substances that could affect blood levels of certain medication; notably calcium channel blockers for blood pressure and statins for cholesterol lowering. It is better to reduce the drug dose or get your doctor to switch you to a different medication that does not have this reaction, not do away with your morning grapefruit.

Grapefruit is not only a great food contributing to your health and ideal weight but it actually may help you lower your blood pressure and your cholesterol, thus lessening the need for these medications anyway. When you eat healthfully and include grapefruit in your program you will most likely be able to achieve the cholesterol lowering without drugs. So get on to the Eat To Live program, eat your grapefruit, and get off your drugs.

Grapefruits are full of anti-cancer phytochemicals including limonoids, lemonin, glucarates and pectins.

In scientific studies, grapefruits and the nutrients it contains such as lycopene has been shown to:

• Lower cholesterol
• Promote reversal of atherosclerosis
• Reduce kidney stone formation
• Prevent cancer

So eat grapefruits for breakfast, cut up grapefruits in your salads and get off your drugs, not the other way around.

Amen! I've always known grapefruits are an amazing superfood. Thank you for explaining why. Many people I know stay away from them because of fear of drug interaction. How come it's always the grapefruit that's given up? I hope people read this, AND START LIVING THE EAT TO LIVE WAY. When your body heals, there's no need for drugs, and you can naturally gravitate to the healthy foods your body craves. It's simple. Thank you!

I am presently on Avalide and Toprol for high blood pressure in the am and I take Lipitor at night for cholesterol. I have recently started eating red grapefruit again. Are there any serious side effects associated with eating grapefruits with these meds.

Thanks!