The Link Between Grapefruits & Stomach Problems

The grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) derives from a natural crossbreeding between orange and pomelo--the largest of the citrus fruits--according to the website Juicing For Health. In 2005, researchers at Jagiellonian University, in Poland, used the extract of grapefruit seed in stomach ulcers of rats. They concluded that the substance helped the healing process, due to its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, according to BBC News website.

History

In 1693, an English captain brought pomelo seeds from the East Indies to the Caribbean, where they were planted close to oranges. According to BNET, the pollination between the two species happened naturally, resulting in a new fruit, which was later named "forbidden fruit." In 1814, naturalist John Lunan named it "grapefruit," after observing that the fruit grows in grape-like clusters. In the U.S., the first records of grapefruit trees date back to 1823.

The 1930s saw the first wave of grapefruit consumption for health reasons, known as the Hollywood Diet, or the "Grapefruit Diet," to lose weight, according to BNET. Meanwhile, the government was helping families to survive the Great Depression through the distribution of food stamps, which entitled people to free grapefruit. This introduced the fruit to many Americans.

Nutritional Composition

Grapefruit is rich in citric acid and vitamin C, natural sugars and the essential oils limonene, pinene and citral. It also contains small amounts of vitamins A, B complex, E, K and the minerals calcium, folic acid, phosphorus and potassium, according to Juicing For Health.

The fruit contains the flavonoids naringenin and apigenin-7-b-rutinoside, according to the New Crop Resource Online Program.

Uses and Benefits

Grapefruit seed extract can help cure ulcers through a rise in blood flow at the ulcer sites, according to BBC News. Researcher Dr. Thomas Brzozowski reports in the BBC News website that grapefruit is often considered as part of an inadequate diet during ulcers and other stomach problems, due to its acidic nature. However, the research suggests the exact opposite.

Although grapefruit has a sub-acid taste, its juice has an alkaline reaction after digestion, according to Juicing For Health. Flavonoids are widely known for their antioxidants and antibacterial properties.

Drug Interactions

Grapefruit juice can interact with many medicines. Although most interactions are not harmful, patients taking drugs to lower cholesterol (Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor) have reported an increase in drug potency when taken with grapefruit juice, according to the "New York Times." High levels of these drugs can cause a serious muscle disorder called rhabdomyolysis.

Warning

People under medication should contact a doctor before consuming grapefruit juice or seed extract, to avoid harmful reactions. People with high cholesterol and heart problems should pay particular attention to this warning, according to BBC News.