Grapefruit has been steadily loved by Hollywood stars since its weight loss effect was known in the 1930s. Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue are known to always pack grapefruit when on a diet. Miley Cyrus, dubbed the "icon of diet" for her diet before and after photos, also included grapefruit in her diet.
(Picture from Unsplash)
Several studies have shown the weight loss effect of grapefruit. In 2014, a research team at the University of California, Berkeley, divided mice that ate high-fat foods into two groups, providing grapefruit juice to one group and water to the other. As a result, rats who drank grapefruit juice had 18% less weight gain than mice who drank water and 13% to 17% lower blood sugar.
Researchers at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego, U.S., said they had an obese person eat half a grapefruit before a meal for 12 weeks and found that they had lost weight.
Grapefruit is also known to have a detox effect that helps detoxify the liver and releases toxins and waste products in the body. RiverSupport, a U.S. research site specializing in liver function, introduced that grapefruit helps the production of liver detoxification enzymes and lowers cholesterol levels to enhance the natural purification process of the liver.
The weight loss effect of grapefruit is attributed to the ingredients of narinjin. Naryngin is a type of polyphenol with a strong antioxidant effect, which increases the expression of fat-burning protein (UCP). It also helps release toxins from the blood by strengthening the liver's detoxification ability by making metabolism active.
These narin gin are contained a lot in grapefruit pulp and white endothelium attached to the skin. The problem is that the bitter taste of grapefruit inner skin is strong, and if it is difficult to eat raw fruits due to its unique bitter taste, it is also good to grind them with sweet fruits such as apples and make juice.
It is also a way to eat healthy foods containing narin. There are many products on the market that process grapefruit narinjin in the form of capsules, powders, and jelly that are easy to eat. However, in some cases, a large amount of sugar and synthetic fragrances are used to mimic the sweet taste of grapefruit, so it is recommended to check for additives before purchasing.
Writer: Yeyoung Jeon