Friday, March 14, 2008

Food of the Week: Grapefruit

It’s grapefruit season in the northern lands!
Everyday, you might enjoy the fruit’s tangy-sweet flavor doing a tap dance on your tongue, but did you know just how kind you are being to your body?

Everyone knows citrus fruits are great sources of Vitamin C, the handy little friend that lessens our cold symptoms and boosts our immune systems, but grapefruits are great for other reasons too:

The pamplemousse (as it is known in France) is a excellent detoxifier. Compounds in the fruit called limonides enhance the our liver ability to make toxins water soluble and therefore easier to clear out. The fruit's ruby juice is not only dense in antioxidant count, its pulp contains compounds called glucarates that may specifically target breast cancer. Finally, the naringenin in grapefruit helps repair damaged or mutilated DNA, making this citrus a great long-term addition to your breakfast routine.

But you can eat grapefruit anytime, not just in the morning! Toss some slices on to a salad with red onions, feta and chicken for a great lunch; make a fruity salsa with mango, jalapeƱo and cilantro; or take grapefruit juice, lime juice, olive oil, a bit of chopped onion, hot pepper and toss with small pieces of a white fish (like sea bass) to make your own ceviche!

But wait, why is sectionized fruit with the thick peel called a grapefruit? Grapefruit earned its name in 1814 in Jamaica for its grape-like clusters on tree branches! Cool!

Check out these great recipes.....
roast pork loin with grapefruit
ginger and pink grapefruit cheesecake
grilled sea bass, mango, grapefruit and avocado salad