Eating a grapefruit or consuming its juices while taking certain medications could lead to
gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney failure, depressed breathing and sudden death
, warns a new paper in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Why grapefruit is bad for you?
Many drugs are broken down (metabolized) with the help of a vital enzyme called CYP3A4 in the small intestine. Grapefruit juice
can block the action of intestinal CYP3A4
, so instead of being metabolized, more of the drug enters the blood and stays in the body longer. The result: too much drug in your body.
What happens if you drink grapefruit juice everyday?
Regularly consuming grapefruit is thought to
improve heart health
by reducing risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. In one study, people who ate grapefruit three times daily for six weeks experienced significant reductions in blood pressure over the course of the study.
Is grapefruit juice dangerous?
Grapefruit products can cause those drugs to stay in your system much longer than usual. The effects are
like a drug overdose
. They can include dangerous heart rhythms, kidney damage, muscle damage, respiratory depression, and bleeding from the stomach or intestines.
What meds should not be taken with grapefruit?
Examples of common medications that interact with grapefruit juice include certain
statin cholesterol
drugs such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin, simvastatin (Zocor), felodipine (Plendil) and other calcium channel blockers, clarithromycin (Biaxin), and loratadine (Claritin).
Is grapefruit juice good for losing belly fat?
Sorry, but
grapefruit doesn't burn fat
. There have been a few studies about grapefruit and weight loss. In one, obese people who ate half a grapefruit before meals for 12 weeks lost more weight than those who didn't eat or drink any grapefruit products.
Can I drink grapefruit juice at night?
Grapefruit juice: Drinking a glass of grapefruit juice
before bed
helps in regulating the secretion of insulin in your body. Grape juice has a low-calorie content and is rich in Vitamin C and potassium, which is also great for your skin.
Should I eat a whole grapefruit or half?
If you truly abhor the chewy walls, simply eating the fruit alone will give you about two grams of dietary fiber. In that case, it is probably a good idea to eat
a whole grapefruit instead of just a half
.
Why is grapefruit bad for high blood pressure?
Grapefruit contains compounds that may interfere with how your body absorbs some drugs
, including some blood pressure medicines. It can leave too much or too little of the drug in your bloodstream, which may be dangerous. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist if grapefruit could affect the medicine you're taking.
What does grapefruit do for your body?
Like many citrus fruits, grapefruit is loaded with vitamin C, a nutrient shown to help
boost your body's immune system
. Grapefruit is also loaded with Vitamin A, another vitamin that has been proven to help immune function. This powerful combination could help keep the amount of time you spend sick to a minimum.
What is the most healthiest fruit in the world?
- 1 Apple. A low-calorie snack, high in both soluble and insoluble fiber. …
- 2 Avocado. The most nutritious fruit in the world. …
- 3 Banana. …
- 4 Citrus fruits. …
- 5 Coconut. …
- 6 Grapes. …
- 7 Papaya. …
- 8 Pineapple.
How much grapefruit juice should you drink a day?
If you plan on consuming grapefruit juice every day, you should make sure you select a pure form of the juice that doesn't contain added sugars. This will help avoid weight gain and blood sugar spikes. Try to limit your intake to
6 ounces a day
to make sure you are not consuming too many calories.
Is grapefruit juice bad for your liver?
Nevertheless, the current evidence points to grapefruit being a good way to
keep your liver healthy
by helping prevent damage and inflammation. The antioxidants in grapefruit protect the liver by helping reduce inflammation and increase its protective mechanisms.
Can you eat grapefruit when on high blood pressure medication?
Grapefruit can mean
danger
when combined with some popular drugs used for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are healthful, providing enough vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and other nutrients to earn the American Heart Association's “heart-check” mark.
Why can't you have grapefruit with blood pressure medicine?
Calcium channel blockers
They're used as part of the treatment of conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and coronary heart disease. Grapefruit juice interacts with some calcium channel blockers and increases the level of the medicine in your blood.
How long does grapefruit juice stay in your system?
One whole grapefruit or one glass of grapefruit juice is enough to alter how these medications affect you. Its
effects last several days
. Grapefruit's ability to affect medication lasts for 1–3 days. Taking your medication a few hours apart from consuming it isn't long enough.
