Hindi Name: Chakotra
It is the fruit of a sub-tropical citrus tree. It is said to have originated in Barbados as a hybrid of the Jamaican sweet orange and the Indonesian pomelo. There are many stories associated with its origin that made people call it “The Forbidden Fruit”. USA is the top producer of grapefruit and in recent years its cultivation has also started in India. Commonly known as Chakotra in Hindi, the fruit has a sour to semi-bitter taste.
Types
Red grapefruit are said to be a little sweeter as compared to the rest.
Oro Banco is a cross between pomelo and white grapefruit.
Pink grapefruits are the most commonly used type for making grapefruit juice.
White grapefruit is the least sweet of them all and does not have lycopene.
Pomelo are lime green or yellow in color and are mostly used in salads.
Health benefits
Grapefruit has 73% daily value of vitamin C and is therefore one of the best fruits for a healthy immune system. Including grapefruit in the diet can keep you away from cold.
It also helps reduce the severity of inflammatory conditions like asthma and arthritis.
Pink and red grapefruits contain lycopene that are known for their anti tumor activity. Drinking it in the form of juice can help prevent prostrate cancer.
Grapefruit juice is known for its highest antioxidant activity.
The presence of a soluble fiber pectin makes it very helpful in reducing cholestrol levels.
Drinking grapefruit juice prevents the formation of calcium oxalate stones and helps prevent kidney stones.
It also lowers insulin level and helps prevent weight gain.
Note: Fully ripened grapefruit have the most antioxidants
[“source-ndtv”]
