Brimming with Vitamin C
Grapefruit is a superb source of vitamin C, an essential nutrient for a healthy immune system. More than 20 scientific studies show that vitamin C rich foods, like grapefruit, help lessen the severity of colds or even protect us from them. Vitamin C also protects us from harmful oxygen molecules (called free radicals) that can set off inflammatory chain reactions in our cells. Therefore vitamin C intake has been associated with a reduction in the symptoms of inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and asthma.

The inflammatory effects of free radicals can also damage our arteries causing atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. So the anti-inflammatory effects of eating vitamin C rich foods can also considerably reduce our risk of developing heart disease. As all fruits and vegetables are a source of vitamin C (to one degree or another), it is not surprising that those who eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables are considerably less likely to have heart problems that those who eat very little or no fruits and vegetables.

Cancer Protection with Lycopene
The red hue of red and pink grapefruits is provided by a plant pigment called lycopene. Lycopene is also the most potent anti-cancer antioxidants of the carotenoid family. Studies with human and animal males have found that lycopene tends to concentrate itself in the prostrate where it helps protect prostate cells from free radical damage. A large prospective study of 27,000 male health professionals found that those who consumed the most lycopene rich foods were at at about a 30% less risk of developing prostate cancer.

Grapefruit Juice
Fruit juices can vary tremendously in their antioxidant content. A study conducted at Glasgow University, tested the antioxidant capacity of 13 common fruit juices found at the supermarket. It found that the top scorer was concord grape juice, with grapefruit juice, cranberry juice and cloudy apple juice also scoring highly. Other juices tested included specific brands of orange juice, pineapple juice, white grape juice and pomegranate juice.

Fresh Juice or Commercial Juice
Studies show that fresh homemade juice is always the best way to drink juice. Commercial juice will need to undergo some kind of filtering or processing so that the juice can ‘keep’. This loses some of the nutrient content. Some nutrients, like vitamin C, are also notoriously time dependent. Once a fruit is cut open and exposed to the air, vitamin C content begins to diminish. So drinking your juicer recipe fresh from the juicer is prime time. To make yourself  a glass of fresh juice you will need 2 large grapefruits and a juicing machine (if you don’t have one I recommend the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer ). Peel the grapefruit, but try and leave as much of the white membranes on the fruit as you can, they are loaded with antioxidant flavonoids! If straight grapefruit juice is too sour for you, mix it up with oranges.