Most doctors tell diabetics to avoid citrus fruit because it causes blood sugar problems. But there's one citrus fruit I think all diabetics should include in their diet. Not only does it reduce your blood sugar, it can also help you lose weight.
A recent study proves this. Researchers at the prestigious Scripps Institute in Lajolla, CA divided 91 obese volunteers into several groups. Each group ingested either one-half raw grapefruit, eight ounces grapefruit juice, grapefruit capsules, or a placebo. They took the capsules and the placebo with apple juice - a non-citrus fruit juice.
Each group took their treatment three times daily before each meal. After 123 weeks, all of the volunteers in the grapefruit groups experienced weight loss. The most weight loss was in fresh grapefruit use, followed by grapefruit juice, and then capsules. The placebo group had insignificant weight loss. But most importantly, subjects in the fresh grapefruit group had lower glucose and insulin levels. Insulin resistance, a serious marker for future disease, also improved.
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The researchers didn't give an explanation for why the grapefruit works, other than it's ability to help lower blood sugar and insulin levels. But I suspect there's a lot more to it than that.
We know that vinegar helps with glucose intolerance and metabolic syndrome. Well, grapefruit is similar to vinegar in that both contain organic acids. These acids act as tiny fatty acids that are very easy for your body to burn. When they enter your stomach, they slow your body's digestion of sugars and other carbs. The result is lower blood sugar.
This is great news because I like grapefruit a lot more than vinegar. I'm sure you do too. Eating grapefruit to lose weight was considered an old wive's tale. But now we see that it's really an effective folk remedy. This study confirms two things I have repeatedly stressed: (1) Fresh living foods are best, and (2) natural remedies, especially food, should be your first choice in healing. Fresh grapefruit and grapefruit juice are a living food, bursting with vitamin C, bioflavonoids and other nutrients. I recommend you eat or drink it whenever you can.
Ref: Fujioka K, F. Greenway, et al. "The effects of grapefruit on weight and insulin resistance: relationship to the metabolic syndrome," J Med Food, 2006; 9(1): 49-54.