Grapefruit A Natural Wonder Fruit On Earth

Dr Vikram Sharma

Grapefruit a large, tart and tangy fruit and a nutritious member of the citrus family, are known primarily for their vitamin C content. In India, Grapefruits, know as Chakotara, are eaten for there sweet and sour taste with delicacy. The fruit, often mistaken for a Pomelo, can be found with either whitish pink, pinkish red, or red pulps – all with different levels of  sweetness. However all offer very similar benefits but reddish pink are having high content of lycopene, a natural essential nutrient for cells. While grapefruits are normally available in season from winter through early spring, you can experience the health benefits of grapefruit all year round. Naringenin, a flavonoid found in concentrated grapefruit, encourages DNA repair following oxidative damage in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. After exposing cell cultures to the compound, research found that Naringenin helps DNA to repair by inducing two DNA-mending enzymes during the replication stage. The vitamin C content and phytonutrients found in grapefruit help to prevent a number of issues related to DNA damage and oxidative stress, including: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and cancer growth and diabetes related clotting in peripheral neuropathy. Grapefruit juice has shown to protect against colon cancer when consumed three times daily at 6 ounces for each serving. The research, presented at the 228th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, found that grapefruit, along with isolated compounds found in grapefruit (apigenin, hesperidin, limonin, naringin, naringenin, and nobiletin), ignite the death of cancer cells and even increases production of healthy colon cells. Other health benefits of grapefruit are liver cleansing, detoxifcation, as grapefruit contains numerous liver-cleansing agents. The fruit also contains a flavonoid compound known as Naringenin, as mentioned earlier, which causes the liver to burn fat rather than store it. It helps to treat gum disease. According to research study consuming two grapefruits each day for two weeks results in significantly less bleeding of the gums. Grapefruit is beneficial in respiratory issues, Asthma too. In case you didn’t know, vitamin C has been shown in numerous studies to lessen respiratory issues and prevent asthma. In a research it is found that consuming vitamin C-rich fruit reduced wheezing symptoms in children while also aiding asthma, chronic cough, shortness of breath, and even runny nose. Grapefruit juice prevents kidney stone. According to a research drinking 1/2-1 liter of grapefruit juice daily reduce risk of developing kidney stones as it acts as anti-calcification agent.Grapefruit is Rich in folate and vitamin C and can be great for promoting a healthy pregnancy. Vitamin C works to promote proper bone growth, bone development tissue repair, and helps to maintain cell strength in the womb.

Grapefruit Benefits Overview

Grapefruits are great for:

* Diabetes v Weight loss

* Promoting heart health

* Boosting the immune system, preventing cold or sickness

* Helps prevent arthritis

* Helps cleanse the liver

* Cancer prevention

* Reducing blood pressure

* Skin health (acne, psoriasis, wrinkles)

Other Benefits Of Grapefruit

As a side benefits unrelated to health, you could also use grapefruits for cleaning! Dip the extra pulp left over from juicing the grapefruit in some sea salt and run it over fixtures in your bathroom or kitchen while squeezing out leftover juice. Citric acid works to eliminate dirt while salt disinfects. Rinse after scrubbing.

Don’t Mix Medications with Grapefruits

If you are taking medication, be sure to check with your doctor before eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice, as many medications mix badly with the fruit. Grapefruit contain compounds known as Furanocoumarins, which are known to spark a negative outcome when combined with many medications – at least 44 medications, in fact. What’s worse, some of these medications could lead to sudden death. Some common medications in this mix are cholesterol drugs like Lovastatin, Lipitor, and a heart disease medication called Amlodipine used to lower blood pressure.

(The writer hails from Ghumarwin and is a Member of Coffee Board of India )

Go-Sanctuary To Tackle Abandoned Animals Problem

Nitin Rao

The problem of abandoned animals that emerged a decade ago has taken a grave shape in Himachal Pradesh at present. This menace has become a serious problem for both the state government and common public. Thousands of acres of land has been rendered barren in the hill state because of the problem of abandoned. The Jwali administration in their endeavour to find a solution to this problem has prepared a master plan to establish a Go-sanctuary. It has been sent to the state government plan for approval. The administration has also constituted a wildlife society. People sow crops according to the season by illegally encroaching Bhakra Beas Management Board land. The establishment of the go sanctuary in the area will also end this practice of illegal encroachment in the area. Besides this, it will also provide home to abandoned animals.             About 49,422 acres of land from Fatehpur area in Jwali to Dehra sub-division remains vacant. This land is at a height of 30 feet from water level. It is on this very land people use to sow crop illegally. According to the master plan, the Go-sactuary will provide relief to go sadans from abandoned animals. Under the plan, milch or sick animals will be kept in go sadans for proper healthcare under the supervision of veterinary doctors. The figure of abandoned animals has crossed 35,000 mark in the state. Go-sanctuary can easily house about 50,000 animals at a time. Besides this, fodder in ample supply can also be managed in the Go-sanctuary.

* A proposal to establish Go-sanctuary has been sent to the state government. About 200 square kilometre area is vacant from Fatehpur in Jawali to Dehra sub-division. The establishment of Go-sanctuary will help in eliminating the abandoned animal problem.

-Mohan Dutt Sharma, SDM, Jawali

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