I know it’s easy to love sweet, sweet fruits like apples and pears. However, it’s a good idea to limit these fruits in your diet. That’s because while your taste buds love them, they’re not all that friendly to your blood sugar. Instead, I’m hoping I can encourage you to give another fruit a try. It’s grapefruit—and in addition to having a sophisticated sweet-tart flavor, it’s lower in sugar than most fruits and it’s super-good for you.

What are the benefits of eating grapefruit?

Grapefruit boosts your metabolism.

Grapefruit contains a compound called nootkatone, which can stimulate your metabolism and ramp up weight loss. In fact, research reveals that merely smelling grapefruit may help you burn off more fat! How cool is that?

Fiber in grapefruit. 

The fiber in grapefruit keeps you feeling full, so it’s easier to fight cravings—and all that fiber helps you banish bloat.

Grapefruits are rich in vitamin C.

This vitamin plays a key role in forming wrinkle-blasting collagen, and it also helps you fight off winter colds and flu.

Grapefruits help release the toxins from your body.

Grapefruit is brimming with limonoids, which help your body get rid of toxins.

Grapefruit controls blood sugar spikes.

Grapefruit is rich in a compound called naringin, which has remarkable blood sugar-lowering effects. In fact, one study found that it lowers blood glucose as effectively as the diabetes drug metformin!

One caution, however: Before you put grapefruit on your menu, talk with your doctor if you’re taking any medications. Grapefruit interacts with dozens of common drugs, and can dramatically increase their effects and side effects. Some of the most common drugs that interact with grapefruit are:

What drugs interfere with grapefruit? 

• Robitussin DM
• Premarin
• Lipitor
• Zocor
• Benzodiazepines
• Viagra
• Halcion
• Tegretol
• Procardia
• Glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta)

If you get the thumbs-up, then add grapefruit to your diet at least once or twice a week. I like to put grapefruit in salads, make a vinaigrette with grapefruit juice, or freeze the juice in ice cube trays and toss the cubes into sparkling water. It’s great in cocktails, too; here’s one of my party favorites from my brand-new book, The 10-Day Belly Slimdown. Enjoy!

TEQUILA GRAPEFRUIT FIZZ

Prep Time: 5 MIN. | Yield: 1 SERVING

• Celtic or pink Himalayan salt (optional)
• Grapefruit, lemon, or lime wedge (optional)
• Ice
• 1 1/ 2 ounces tequila
• 1/ 4 cup fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 slice jalapeño
• Lemon, lime, or grapefruit sparkling water or seltzer
• Lemon or lime wedge, for garnish (optional)

If desired, spread a good amount of salt evenly on a small plate. Rub the grapefruit, lemon, or lime wedge around the rim of a martini glass and dip the rim in the salt to coat the edge of the glass. Set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the tequila, grapefruit juice, and jalapeño slice. Cover, shake, and strain into the prepared martini glass. Top with sparkling water. Garnish with a lemon or lime wedge, if desired.

Keep thinking Big and living BOLD!