Rehovot's Kaplan Hospital Researchers Say Red Grapefruit Lowers Cholesterol

According to Dr. Shela Gorinstein of Hebrew University, one red grapefruit a day will keep the cholesterol away and help prevent heart disease.

A new study published in the March issue of Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry by a research team led by Gorinstein found that red grapefruit in particular was more effective than white although it is not yet clear as to why.

“It is likely that antioxidants in the grapefruits are responsible for their health benefits,” said Gorinstein. Red grapefruit has more antioxidants that the white variety. “But it’s also possible that red grapefruit may contain unknown chemicals that are responsible for the observed triglyceride-lowering effect,” she said.

The research team included Professor Abraham Caspi, head of the Institute of Cardiology at Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot as well as scientists from Singapore and Poland who carried out lab work for the project.

One cup of fresh grapefruit is approximately equal to a half cup of juice. Both are beneficial. Since grapefruit sometimes interacts with certain medications, researchers emphasize that people should consult with their doctor before eating the fruit or drinking the juice."

Source: Israeli Researcher: Red Grapefruit Lowers Cholesterol. IsraelNN.com (16 February 2006) [FullText]