There is a lot of data on the benefits of grapefruit. However, this fruit also has a downside. It is fraught with a certain danger to human health, and in some cases it can lead to the development of severe painful conditions. Why is grapefruit harmful?
Grapefruit belongs to the citrus fruit family. It has an unusual bitter-sour taste with sweet notes. However, if you choose a fruit that is as ripe as possible, with a juicy red flesh, the sweetness will be felt to a greater extent. And if you remove thin films from grapefruit slices, the bitterness will practically disappear.
This citrus fruit is very rich in various vitamins. It helps to lose weight, can have a positive effect on digestion. The benefit of grapefruit lies in the fact that it has a beneficial strengthening effect on the human immune system. However, this fruit is fraught with many health hazards. What can excessive and regular consumption of grapefruit lead to?
The harmful effects of grapefruit on the human body
Due to the fact that this citrus fruit is very rich in vitamins, too much of it can lead to hypervitaminosis. In addition, grapefruit is very easy to cause allergies in children and adults, therefore it is recommended to use it with caution. Individual intolerance is a strict prohibition on the introduction of this citrus into the diet.
Being a sour and juicy fruit, grapefruit irritates the mucous membranes. Therefore, after its use, especially on an empty stomach, heartburn may occur, which will be felt not only in the stomach, but also in the throat, esophagus. It is not recommended to drink the fruit with water, especially hot water, this can lead to increased irritation. Excessive consumption of grapefruit can cause the development of peptic ulcer disease, can provoke an exacerbation of gastritis and lead to severe digestive upset.
In the composition of grapefruit there are certain substances that have a depressing effect on the liver. If this effect is regular and strong, then the lover of eating grapefruit may face liver diseases, with inflammatory processes. Again, due to this effect on the auxiliary organ of the digestive system, there is a risk that a person will experience various problems in the digestion and assimilation of food. It is forbidden to eat grapefruit for any form of hepatitis.
Grapefruit has a certain effect on the kidneys. He makes them work hard. Therefore, it is not recommended to introduce grapefruit into the diet of people who have diseases of this paired organ.
It is noted that the bitter-sour fruit affects the work of the cardiovascular system. People with frequent high blood pressure should eat grapefruit with caution.
There is a medical theory that heavy grapefruit consumption in women increases the risk of breast cancer. This theory does not have a full-fledged evidence base, but one should not forget about such a risk. Especially in cases where there are other factors in a woman's life that can cause breast cancer.
Grapefruit does not work well with certain types of medications. This citrus can either enhance the effect of the drug, or significantly weaken it. In some cases, a combination of grapefruit and separate tablets can lead to overdose and serious consequences, even death. Prohibited drugs that should not be taken with grapefruit or juice from this citrus include antidepressants, some options for pain relievers, drugs to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood. It is not recommended to combine grapefruit and hormonal drugs, drugs for male potency, drugs that are aimed at combating cancer. Antibiotics and grapefruit are also a very bad combination. At the time of taking antibiotics, you must exclude this citrus from your diet.
