Facts about Grapefruit

Did you know? Grapefruit can cause dangerous reactions with some prescription medications.

Grapefruits are sub-tropical fruits and are semi sweet.

• Grapefruit is one of the best food to eat at breakfast. It is portable and makes a great snack with less calories and high in water content.
• People who take prescription medications should take extra caution if consuming this fruit in diet. Grapefruit can inhibit an enzyme in our intestine. The enzyme CYP3A4 that plays a key role in breaking down certain medications in our body. Consumption of grapefruit can be life threatening as it inactivates the enzymes that is necessary for drugs to release and absorb in the body if taken along with these drugs. Reason for this is grapefruit contains chemicals called furanocoumarins/ naringenin that inhibit this enzyme without which human gut cannot control medicine absorption and drug level in blood can increase.
• Grapefruit also contains lycopene that is present in tomato. Lycopene is responsible for its pink color.

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