Popular but not always appreciated because of its bitterness, grapefruit is a rare digest of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. Juice, flesh, seeds, bark, skin: everything is good in this citrus fruit. But can we really consume grapefruit to lose weight ?
IDENTITY RECORD
Name : Grapefruit, Pomelo
Family: Rutaceae
Scientific name : Citrus maxima, Citrus paradisi
Varieties: Duncan, Jaffa sweetie, Marsh, Star ruby
Caloric value: 42 kcal / 100 g
High season: January – April (calendar)
Producers: China, Vietnam, United States, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey
France: Corsica, Guadeloupe, Guyana
Storage: 1 month in the refrigerator, one week in ambient air
More cultivated in tropical countries and rare in the West, the grapefruit is a fruit native to Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia).
Grapefruit or pomelo?
This citrus fruit is yellow-green in color, has thick skin and contains 16 to 18 wedges filled with large seeds. It can reach an impressive weight (several kilos) and its diameter is on average 18 centimeters, hence its scientific name: citrus maxima.
It is often confused with the pomelo which also belongs to the Rutaceae family. Much smaller, the pomelo weighs on average 400 g: it is the result of a cross between grapefruit and orange, made in America in the 19th century.
Grapefruit contains about 42 kcal per 100 g and has a low glycemic index (25); which makes it an ideal fruit to consume when looking to lose weight. Especially since he has a appetite suppressant which quickly provides a feeling of satiety.
Grapefruit is very rich in vitamin C. Indeed, half of a grapefruit covers nearly 2/3 of the required daily intake. It is also a great source of B vitamins, minerals (potassium, calcium, and phosphorus), flavonoids, and soluble fiber.
Eat grapefruit to lose weight?
Renowned for its slimming action, grapefruit does not make you lose weight. The so-called slimming power of grapefruit comes from its content of naringin flavonoid, an organic compound that is also found in abundance in pomelo.
On the other hand, since it contains more than 90% water, grapefruit helps us activate our metabolism, and therefore facilitates the work of tissue drainage.
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Its white part located between the bark and the flesh is also very rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that helps lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood.
Available year-round, grapefruit can be found everywhere on market shelves or on supermarket shelves. However, his season consumption is between December and March.
The benefits of grapefruit
Even if you cannot consume grapefruit to lose weight, the fruit has a multitude of health benefits:
- Rich in vitamin C, grapefruit is effective against tired.
- It helps fight against free radicals thanks to its flavonoid content.
- Its seeds help boost the immune system and fight winter infections.
- Thanks to its richness in anti-oxidants, it is ideal for fighting against cell aging and has a protective effect against certain cancers.
- It also promotes the intestinal transit and helps fight digestive disorders (gas, bloating, constipation, etc.) thanks to its soluble fibers.
- It is beneficial for the arteries and increases the body defenses.
Some practical advice
To do the best choice and buy a fruit at full maturity and very juicy, we choose a grapefruit with very smooth, firm and shiny skin. It should be heavy to the touch, which guarantees a very dense pulp. When the pulp is yellow, it has a slightly sour taste. When it is red, the flavor is sweeter.
We can keep grapefruit for 1 month in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator or 8 days in ambient air. You can also freeze the peeled fruit or the juice.
Grapefruit should be eaten immediately after peeling, otherwise the pulp will dry out and its nutritional value will deteriorate. It can be eaten raw or cooked and is very appreciated for its freshness and acidity, especially in salads.
Warning: consuming grapefruit with certain medications can cause interactions. It is therefore a good idea to read the medication leaflet carefully or to seek medical advice.
Grapefruit fondant recipe
Ingredients for 4 persons
- 100 g butter
- 100 g of sugar + 1 or 2 teaspoons
- 100g of flour
- 2 eggs (or 1 egg and 2 very large tablespoons of mascarpone)
- 1 teaspoon of yeast (1/2 sachet)
- 20 cl of pink grapefruit (the juice of 1 grapefruit, in general)
Preperation :
- The oven is preheated at thermostat 6 (180 ° C).
- Mix the sugar and the eggs in a bowl.
- Add the flour and baking powder and mix well.
- Then add 10 cl of grapefruit juice, then the melted butter.
- We butter a mold with a high edge (missed mold) and pour the preparation into it.
- It is placed in the oven (still at a thermostat of 6/180 ° C) for 30 min.
- Right out of the oven, turn out the cake and pour the rest of the grapefruit juice sweetened with 1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar, depending on taste.
- We let cool and we taste.
