CHEF DE CUISINE: RECIPE: GRAPEFRUIT MAIN PAGE, pomelo, pink grapefruit

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GRAPEFRUIT LOWERS CHOLESTEROL? •

GRAPEFRUIT

Grapefruit got its name because it grows in grape-like clusters.
It is related to the Pomelo, which is a large citrus fruit native to Malaysia, with thick skin, firm flesh and less juice than a grapefruit.
Grapefruit originated sometime in the late 18th century in the Caribbean, a hybrid mutation of the pomelo and another citrus fruit, probably the orange.
Grapefruits can vary in color from white to deep blush red. See above, Texas Ruby Red grapefruit
All shades of grapefruits vary widely in flavor from very tart to sweet. The pink grapefruit contains more vitamin A than its white cousin.

Two new grapefruit varieties, Oroblanco (also known as Sweetie) and Melogold have been recently developed by the University of California at Riverside and are currently grown in Southern California. These are low in acid, juicy and just pleasantly tart. If you want a really sweet tasting grapedefruit, the Melogold is for you. This grapefruit-hybrid is a cross between a Pomelo and a white Grapefruit. It is virtually seedless and acid free.
The Melogold has a sister named the Oro Blanco. In Spanish, it translates to "White Gold. The difference in the two fruits is that the Melogold has a thinner rind, which makes for more meat, and it is also sweeter. The Melogold also matures later than its sister.

Select grapefruit with smooth, brightly colored skins. They should feel firm and heavy when you hold them in your palm.
Avoid fruit that looks dented, feels squishy or has white patches, an indication of mold.

Store at room temperature for no more than two days. Grapefruit will keep up to two weeks in a plastic bag in the produce drawer of the refrigerator.

Grapefruit May Improve Cholesterol

New research shows that grapefruit, especially red grapefruit, may improve cholesterol.
Natural compounds called antioxidants may get the credit, but that's not certain, the researchers note.

Low-Fat Diet, Daily Grapefruit

The study included 57 people with high cholesterol. They had had coronary bypass surgery at least a year before the experiment. The patients had already unsuccessfully tried a cholesterol-lowering statin drug (such as Zocor). They hadn't taken any drugs that cut cholesterol or boost antioxidants for at least 30 days before the study. The researchers split the patients into three groups.
For 30 days, all groups ate a low-calorie, low-fat diet. One group added a daily red grapefruit. Another group got a white grapefruit every day.
For comparison, the third group didn't eat any grapefruit during the study. The red grapefruit group improved their cholesterol most, followed by the white grapefruit group. They ended up with notably lower total cholesterol and LDL ("bad" cholesterol) than the comparison group.

Bonus With Red Grapefruit
The red grapefruit group also improved their triglycerides (blood fats). Triglycerides didn't change much for the other two groups.
Red grapefruit has more antioxidants than white grapefruit, the researchers note. They call for more studies to see if those antioxidants deserve the credit for the study's findings, or if there's another explanation. Meanwhile a daily red grapefruit might be a helpful addition to a heart-friendly, low-fat diet for people with high cholesterol.
But remember to check with your doctor first if you take any medicine, even if it's not a cholesterol-lowering drug. Other types of medications that can interact with grapefruit juice include drugs for blood pressure, heart rhythm, depression, anxiety, HIV, immunosuppression, allergies, impotence, and seizures.

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