National Grapefruit Month

February is National Grapefruit Month. Read about the fruit and how to celebrate this National food holiday. We list fun facts, recipes, nutritional information & party ideas too!

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Happy National Grapefruit Month!

During National Grapefruit Month we are encouraged to re-

introduce the grapefruit to the family and incorporate this

punch-of-a-flavor fruit back into our daily meals.

Hey, it's not as hard as you think.

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Who Celebrates this Holiday?

Everyone who loves grapefruits and even those who don't.

We think this holiday was first made popular in the US

because it is listed as a commemorative observance but

we couldn't find any origin information.

Colors and Flavors

Grapefruit comes in many varieties, determinable by color,

which is caused by the pigmentation of the fruit in respect

of both its state of ripeness. The most popular varieties

cultivated today are red, white, and pink hues, referring to

the internal pulp color of the fruit. The family of flavors range

from highly acidic and somewhat bitter to sweet and tart.

Grapefruit mercaptan, a sulfur-containing terpene, is one of

the substances which has a strong influence on the taste

and odor of grapefuit, compared with other citrus fruits.

Nutritional Properties

Grapefruit is an excellent source of many nutrients and phytochemicals that contribute to a healthy diet. Grapefruit is a good source of vitamin C, contains the fiber pectin, and the pink and red hues contain the beneficial antioxidant lycopene. Studies have shown grapefruit helps lower cholesterol, and there is evidence that the seeds have antioxidant properties. Grapefruit forms a core part of the "grapefruit diet", the theory being that the fruit's low glycemic index is able to help the body's metabolism burn fat.

Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) has been claimed to have strong antimicrobial properties against bacteria and fungi. However, no studies have demonstrated any efficacy by GSE as an antimicrobial for either bacteria or fungi. Additionally, although GSE is promoted as a highly effective plant-based preservative by some natural personal care manufacturers, studies have shown that the apparent antimicrobial activity associated with GSE preparations is merely due to contamination with synthetic preservatives.

Since grapefruit juice is known to inhibit enzymes necessary for the clearance of some drugs and hormones, some have hypothesized that grapefruit juice may play an indirect role in the development of hormone-dependent cancers. A 2007 study found a correlation between eating a quarter of grapefruit daily and a 30% increase in risk for breast cancer in post-menopausal women. The study points to the inhibition of CYP3A4 enzyme by grapefruit, which metabolizes estrogen. However, a 2008 study has shown that grapefruit consumption does not increase breast cancer risk and found a significant decrease in breast cancer risk with greater intake of grapefruit in women who never used hormone therapy.

Grapefruit contains large quantities of a simple polyamine called spermidine, which may be related to aging. It is known to be necessary for cell growth and maturation, and as cells age their level of spermidine is known to fall. Scientists have shown that feeding spermidine to worms, fruit flies and yeast significantly prolongs their lifespan. In addition, adding spermidine to the diet of mice decreased molecular markers of aging, and when human immune cells were cultured in a medium containing spermidine, they also lived longer.

How To Celebrate National Grapefruit Month

1) - Plan A Grapefruit Theme Party

Ask all your guest to wear red, white or pink. The food served could be grapefruit related. Drinks could be grapefruit flavored drinks or fruit punches. Instead of lemon slices use grapefruit. Fruit salads are a good choice or even citrus desserts.Serving dishes could be shades of yellow, white or pink and a grapefruit center piece would be perfect for the table. Add a few fruity games and you have the making of a great party. A great party prize could be a potted grapefruit plant or even a fruit basket.

2) - Try a Grapefruit Sweet:

In Costa Rica, especially in Atenas grapefruits are often cooked to remove their sourness, rendering them as sweets; they are also stuffed with dulce de leche, a dessert called toronja rellena (stuffed grapefruit).

3) - Why not get the girls together & learn about natural healing with grapefruit -

Grapefruit peel oil is used in aromatherapy and it is historically known for its aroma. Grapefruit is best known as an astringent and a digestive aid. Also good for cellulite, water retention and obesity. Plan a spa day using grapefruit! You can find all kinds of home recipes on the Internet.

3) - Dieters can learn about the grapefruit diet

The grapefruit diet is also known as the Hollywood Diet and erroneously as the Mayo Clinic Diet, is a short-term fad diet that has existed in the United States since at least the 1930s. Specifics of the diet vary widely, but it usually involves eating half a grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice with each meal and significantly reducing caloric intake, often to below 800 calories per day. The diet is based on the claim that grapefruit has a fat-burning enzyme or similar property.

Grapefruit has also been investigated in cancer medicine pharmacodynamics.

Its inhibiting effect on the metabolism of some drugs may allow smaller doses to be used, which can help to reduce costs.

See Also:

• February Observances

• Daily Reasons to Celebrate

• Facts about February

• February Food Holidays

• Weird February Holidays

• Movable February Holidays

Resources: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses some material from Wikipedia/article grapefruit / and other related pages.