College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

MORE OPTIONS

AYURVEDIC FOODS

Grapefruit Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

Share Content with Friends & Clients

Click one of the buttons above, or cut and paste the following link to share this page with your network. This link will automatically track your referrals to Joyful Belly:

Share URL for Grapefruit

Copy Link

About Sharing Content & Referrals.

RECIPES WITH IT

CREATE A RECIPE WITH IT

COMPARE IT

1 rating, 265 likes

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5 stars

"oh my gosh, I'm just reading this comment about the spine feeling better....I've been juicing grapefruits like crazy..."

- Teresa Ferlotti, Fuquay varina, NC full start review

See all reviews

1. Ayurvedic Perspective

2. Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions

3. Similar foods and herbs

4. Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.

5. Indications / Benefits

6. Comments and reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Grapefruit: Carrot Salad with Orange Blossom, Raisins & Grapefruit

Grapefruit & Digestion

Grapefruit improves digestion. Its sour taste increases saliva and gastric juices. The fruits bitterness stimulates peristalsis and cleansing of the digestive tract. Grapefruit increases the effective potency and bioavailability of many drugs by inhibiting certain enzymes. It increases alertness and refreshes the body, due to sourness and bitterness.

Grapefruit, Fat Metabolism, & Cholesterol

Grapefruit improves fat metabolism and lowers cholesterol. Scientists have hypothesized that grapefruit reduces insulin levels, encouraging fat loss. Ayurveda's high regard for grapefruit lies in its taste, the combination of sour and bitter flavors. Sour and bitter tastes stimulate the flow of bile, which cleans the liver of congestion and prevents the formation of stones in the gall bladder. The removal of bile from the liver, due to its oiliness, also lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. Your spine will feel more cool and relaxed because the bile flow directly reduces Pitta.

The Grapefruit Diet

The grapefruit diet is a weight-loss program popularized in the 1930s. It is a low-calorie crash diet with the addition of 1/2 grapefruit per meal. As with many fad diets, use caution. Avoid starvation or crash diets that increase Vata and ultimately lower metabolism. A healthy diet with the addition of grapefruit can be a sustainable method for long-term weight loss.

Grapefruit & Aging

Grapefruit contains large quantities of spermidine, necessary for cell growth and maturation. As cells age their level of spermidine falls. Worms, fruit flies, and yeast fed spermidine have significantly longer life spans. Mice fed spermidine had reduced molecular markers of aging. Human cells fed spermidine also lived longer. A half grapefruit provides 78.1 percent of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C. High levels of the powerful antioxidant lycopene, shown to have anti-tumor activity, give grapefruit its characteristic red/pink color.

Contraindications

Grapefruit may interfere with enzymes that metabolize estrogen, possibly increasing the risk of breast cancer in women who previously used hormone therapy. Grapefruit can increase the risk of some types of kidney stones. Grapefruit also interferes with some beta blocker drugs used to treat high blood pressure, and cyclosporine, taken by transplant patients to prevent rejection of their new organs. Grapefruits are also contraindicated when using anti-depressants.

Recipes with Grapefruit: Grapefruit with Honey

About Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a relatively new addition to the citrus family. It is a hybrid first discovered in the 18th century. Described as tart, tangy, or sweet, the grapefruit is said to be one of the "Seven Wonders of Barbados, because legend says the fruit was first developed there. Its name comes from the tendency of grapefruits to grow in grape-like clusters on the tree.

Buying & Preparation

Available in white, pink, and red varieties, grapefruits are in season from winter to early spring. Grapefruit is also an essential food for spring that helps wakes up your body out of hibernation. It makes your eyes feel bright, refreshed, and moisturised.

Select grapferuits that are heavy for their size - they tend to have a thinner skin.

Cooking Grapefruit

Grapefruits can be eaten raw, sliced, peeled as an orange, or served as a half-shell. Grapefruits can be grilled and baked. Grapefruit with honey is a cleansing and healthy breakfast for Kapha. In Costa Rica the fruit is cooked to transform the sourness into sweetness, then served in a sweet dessert known as stuffed grapefruit. Sliced grapefruit with cilantro and chili peppers make for a spicy, refreshing, and juicy salsa. Grapefruit in salad actually helps in digestion of the salad greens. Serve room temperature rather than cold for a more juicy effect.

Learn about the health benefits of grapefruit for FREE

You'll receive free access to our entire website including healthy recipes, nutritional diet plans, medicinal uses of ingredients, & ayurvedic health tips. Sign in once and you can use our website indefinitely..

Please complete the following information if you have not registered or sign in to continue.

e-mail address*

confirm your e-mail*

enter a password*

Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips? Click YES to subscribe to our newsletter!

(

find out more

Frequency: You'll receive our most popular Ayurvedic health tips every day for a week, and then 1-2 emails a week ongoing.

).
Yes No

I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its

User Agreement

The materials in this site are provided 'as-is' and without warranties of any kind either expressed or implied. Joyful Belly does not warrant or make any representations regarding the use or the results of the use of the content or other materials in this site in terms of their correctness, accuracy, reliability, or otherwise.

and

Privacy Policy

We respect your privacy. We will NEVER sell, rent or share your email address. That's more than a policy, it's our personal guarantee. Click here to view our privacy policy. Thank you!

browse recipes

browse more recipes

Carrot Salad with Orange...

Grapefruit with Honey

Grapefruit, Quinoa & Fennel...

Grapefruit with Honey, Ginger...

Broiled Grapefruit with...

Is Grapefruit Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Grapefruit' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Take the Quiz

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

SERVING SIZE: 1/2 c

SPECIES: Citrus paradisi

FAMILY: Rutaceae

MEAL: BREAKFAST, SNACK-DESSERT

PREPARATION: BAKED, JUICE, RAW, SALAD

EAT IN: SPRING, SUMMER

FOR OCCASION: BRUNCH, CLEANSE, ON-THE-MEND, TRAVEL-FRIENDLY

Metabolic Nature of Grapefruit

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	MOBILE ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity. LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE CLEAR ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR EASY ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY LIQUEFIED ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED
TASTES The 6 Tastes Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below? Learn More	BITTER ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes, laxative, and drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER SOUR ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic. LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR SWEET ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Moves Energy: Downward DOWNWARD Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles. SEE ALL 'DOWNWARD' FOODS / HERBS Subdosha: Pitta Ranjaka Affinity: Cleanse And Detox, Digestion, Energy Vitality ENERGY-VITALITY Includes vitality improving foods, herbs, and exercises by dosha. SEE ALL 'ENERGY-VITALITY' FOODS / HERBS , Heart Circulation Blood, Liver Gallbladder, Weight Loss Family: Rutaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Grapefruit Experiences are Personal Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition. Digestion: Quenches Thirst QUENCHES-THIRST An herb or substance that relieves thirst. SEE ALL 'QUENCHES-THIRST' FOODS / HERBS , Stimulates Peristalsis STIMULATES-PERISTALSIS An herb that promotes involuntary smooth muscle contractions to facilitate the movement of food and waste through the digestive tract. SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-PERISTALSIS' FOODS / HERBS , Sialogogue SIALOGOGUE A sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. Astringents. SEE ALL 'SIALOGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS , Spleen Tonic SPLEEN-TONIC An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues. SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS Cleanse & Detox: Internal Detoxicant INTERNAL-DETOXICANT Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system. SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS Mind, Stress & Sleep: Wakes You Up WAKES-YOU-UP Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy. SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS , Neuroprotective NEUROPROTECTIVE Repairs / restores damaged nerves. Protects nerve health. SEE ALL 'NEUROPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Refreshing REFRESHING Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized. SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS , Stimulates Energy STIMULATES-ENERGY This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs. SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS Respiratory-Health: Expectorant EXPECTORANT Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract. SEE ALL 'EXPECTORANT' FOODS / HERBS Heart & Circulation: Antioxidant ANTIOXIDANT An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals that lead to a chain reaction causing damage or death to cells. Antioxidants terminate these oxidation reactions. SEE ALL 'ANTIOXIDANT' FOODS / HERBS Liver & Gallbladder: Cholagogue CHOLAGOGUE Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines. SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS Weight Loss: Hypolipidemic HYPOLIPIDEMIC Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells. SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS , Raises Thyroid RAISES-THYROID An herb that increases thyroid function. SEE ALL 'RAISES-THYROID' FOODS / HERBS Other: Quercitin Constituents: Rutin STRONG RUTIN Rutin is a flavonoid with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Commonly used to treat conditions such as varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and high blood pressure. SEE ALL 'RUTIN' FOODS / HERBS , Flavonoids FLAVONOIDS Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect. SEE ALL 'FLAVONOIDS' FOODS / HERBS , Polyphenols POLYPHENOLS Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types. SEE ALL 'POLYPHENOLS' FOODS / HERBS , Salicylates SALICYLATES Salicylates relieve inflammation, are anti-cancer, and antidiabetic, but some are allergic to it. SEE ALL 'SALICYLATES' FOODS / HERBS , Vitamin C

Foods with a Similar Nature to Grapefruit

Orange

Orange has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up, Neuroprotective, Sialogogue, Cholagogue, Quenches-thirst, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Stimulates-energy, Internal-detoxicant, Sialogogue, Wakes-you-up, Neuroprotective, Spleen-tonic, Hypolipidemic, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Lime

Lime has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Sialogogue, Cholagogue, Quenches-thirst, Wakes-you-up, Expectorant, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Lemon

Lemon has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Quenches-thirst, Wakes-you-up, Expectorant, Refreshing, Internal-detoxicant, Sialogogue

LEARN MORE

Pineapple

Pineapple has these Actions in Common

Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Sialogogue, Wakes-you-up, Quenches-thirst, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Mustard Greens

Mustard Greens has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Spleen-tonic, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-peristalsis, Internal-detoxicant, Wakes-you-up

LEARN MORE

Red Leaf Lettuce

Red Leaf Lettuce has these Actions in Common

Stimulates-peristalsis, Hypolipidemic, Wakes-you-up, Antioxidant, Stimulates-energy, Cholagogue

LEARN MORE

Ajwain

Ajwain has these Actions in Common

Wakes-you-up, Hypolipidemic, Spleen-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Coffee

Coffee has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Wakes-you-up, Antioxidant, Stimulates-energy, Cholagogue, Stimulates-peristalsis

LEARN MORE

Cilantro

Cilantro has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Refreshing, Hypolipidemic, Spleen-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Grapefruit

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Internal-detoxicant, Quenches-thirst, Refreshing, Sialogogue, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up

LEARN MORE

Shilajit Tonic

Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Raises-thyroid, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Breathing Exercises

Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

Expectorant, Internal-detoxicant, Raises-thyroid, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up

LEARN MORE

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Expectorant, Internal-detoxicant, Raises-thyroid, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

Expectorant, Internal-detoxicant, Raises-thyroid, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up

LEARN MORE

Reduced lemon juice

Reduced lemon juice has these Actions in Common

Refreshing, Sialogogue, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Expectorant

LEARN MORE

Guggulu

Guggulu has these Actions in Common

Stimulates-energy, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Raises-thyroid, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Bitter Orange Peel

Bitter Orange Peel has these Actions in Common

Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-peristalsis, Wakes-you-up, Raises-thyroid

LEARN MORE

Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Sialogogue, Spleen-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Expectorant

LEARN MORE

Eleuthero Ginseng

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

Expectorant, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up

LEARN MORE

Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Impact of Grapefruit

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.