We’ve all heard of the many health benefits of oranges and of other citrus fruits. But there’s a lot more to citrus than just Vitamin C…
A new study conducted by Texas A&M University and published in the journal Nutrition shows that the antioxidant effects of red grapefruit may increase bone density and slow down bone loss (Source: Grapefruit pulp increases antioxidant status and improves bone quality in orchidectomized rats. Nutrition, Volume 24, Issue 10, Pages 1039 – 1044 Farzad Deyhim et al).
The very promising conclusion was based on a sixty day study involving a total of fifty-six male rats. Forty-two rats were castrated to induce oxidative stress and lower testosterone levels so as to increase their risk of osteoporosis. One-third of the rats were then fed a regular diet, one-third were fed the same food plus five percent red grapefruit pulp, and the other third were fed the same diet plus ten percent red grapefruit pulp.
When compared to the unaltered rats, the castrated rats on a normal diet showed a substantial decrease in bone density, overall bone quality and antioxidant levels. They also lost more calcium and showed signs of bone breakdown markers in the urine. And while all the castrated rats showed a decrease in the magnesium and calcium levels in their bones, the decrease was not as severe among the rats fed the grapefruit pulp.
The altered rats not fed grapefruit pulp showed a 16%-24% percent reduction of the calcium and magnesium content in the lumbar spine. While the rats fed the grapefruit pulp had a decrease of only 10%-16%. Similar results were obtained for the hipbone density results of both groups.
I think it is so great having this website with Vivian and friends!!!
Yes, I agree we need to find every possible hope to deter from taking drugs to correct this issue of osteoporosis!! I do not personally take any as of date… I am anxiously awaiting some supplement to help our issues…I am of Italian desent and we do eat alot of cheese..Are there .. if any ..more favored cheeses to eat if caught in a party situation..what are the foods that are definite no-no’s in a wedding day situation or party in general with a mixed crowd..Please give a list..Thanx Anna..Thank you Vivian for your knowledge and sharing of how to fight our osteoporosis dilemmas…
Hello Vivian
osteoporosis always exits for billions of years on animals, plants and human biengs.
The Earth planet are getting older as like the vegetation and fruits that we eat.
One important reason is eat 85% raw food and water.
My regards Margarita /rodriguez ////good luck
hello Vivian
Well, thank you for all your emails and information.
I did not agree with you about the red’s grapefruit, it produce another problems in the body, lost the calcium, cancer, etc,
The best way is to eat 85% raw food salads, fruits, natural juices and avoid smoke, alcohol, coffee, chocolates tea etc. God bless your mind.My regards Margarita Rodriguez .
As an RN for over 30 years, I too have become so disallusioned with the influenc the pharmaceutical companies have over physicians. I am 59 and have been very active my entire life…riding horses since age 6, playing tennis, swimming, mountain bike riding…and have been religious with taking my Calcium and Vit D and Magnesium supplements. All of this with a spinal fusion for scoliosis from T-4 to T-10 at the age of 10!!!!
I had a freak fall, where I fell backward with a canvas camp chair slung over my back. I landed on the metal legs of the chair between my lower back ( probably around T-12) and the ground. I felt a “pop”, but refused to dmit anything was broken. I did suffer a compression fx of T-12. The ortho immediately dx’d me with severe osteo as my spinal films were very indicative of osteo…dud! the little vertebrae had all been worked on years before…what did he expext!!! I got referred to a DO who specializes in rheumatoid arthritis and osteo.
That was such an interesting appointment. He did order a multitud of labs. Nothing was too high or too low ( have copies ). He immediately wrote an Rx for Forteo (I had no idea what this was), I knew I was not going to put any of the bisphosonates in my body. He told my my first Rx was free, I need to take a class to learn how to “inject” the drug (I am a Hospice clinical case manager!)and then come back to see him. During our time together he informed me he gives seminars to other physicians on the use of Forteo for Eli Lilly. Huge red falg. When I asked him about lab studies and resulting side effect, this was his reply: They have studied 2 MILLION pts (wow! I thought, pretty impressive numers!) the most common side-effect was occasional muscular aches and pain.
I took my Rx home, got online and learned about Forteo…..hmmmm…he never mentioned the osteosarcoma in the lab animals…he did say if one has had radiation or cancer, they should not take it….and he did say one only takes it for 2 years. I was not quick enough to ask why that was…..I learned way more than I needed…oh yes! the RX alsways comes with a Black Box warning….
I went to 2 different phamacies I work with as a Hospice nurse and chatted with the pharmacists about forteo. They gave me their printed info that they give with the RX. One was kind of going on and on about, susan…all medications are really toxic….then he suddenly stopped talking as he read the Black box warning and the info about the osteosarcoma in the lab animals..he was shocked…his face told a different story…His pharmacy, Walgreens, charges $940 for each 30-day Rx; Long’s Pharmacy charges $970.41 for a 30-d supply.
I never intended to put that garbage into my body. I then went back to work on the Inrnet and happoly found your web site and immediately ordered your book….and since when DID osteoporosis become a “disease”?.it was one when I was in nursing school in the late 1060’s!
Thank you, Vivian for your expertise & willingnessto share. My chiropractor and I are both on the same page with all of this osteo stuff. Even my PA adds, it’s like Viagra…what a pharmaceutical money maker.
No one in my family EVER had osteoporosis…..but we were in agriculture, specifically in citrus….so guess I’ll be addin a Ruby grapefruit to my diet…just need to make sure they are grown in the USA!!!
Susan, RN,FACCE,Certified Legal Nurse Consultant
California
Hi Vivian,
Your book the Bone Health Revolution is excellent. In addition to dietary and lifestyle measures mentioned in your book, do you have any additional suggestions for women who have had a hysterectomy or in menopause to save their bones? Are natural estrogen or progesterone helpful or advised at any time to save our bones?
Very interested,
Sharon
Just joined the club and am very excited about it. All the information is great. Ordered your book to find out more and can’t wait to receive it. I have taken several drugs for the bone loss but they haven’t helped with the numbers and only gave me other problems. Thank you again.
I take Lovastatin for cholesterol and the prescription bottle states that I should not eat or drink grapefruit while taking this drug.
If you are taking a statin drug for high cholesterol, I would research that. I have read that studies show that taking statins do not reduce your chances of a heart attack (especially in women). Just another scam by the drug companies!!
That’s all well and good if you’re not taking certain prescription drugs that I’ve heard grapefruit can interfere with and that’s sad.
I’m on Lipitor too, and my pharmacist told me the reason for not eating grapefruit or drinking the juice is that it interferes with the absorption of Lipitor. I wonder why only with grapefruit and not with the other citrus fruits.
Happy new year to all of you!. I am very glad to find Vivian’s web site …I have been hours looking at the internet to find out more about osteoporosis. I alredy signed for the newsletter club and order the book. Great to know about the grapefruit. I was taking nexium for 5 years because of reflux, but I stopped taking these drugs two years ago. For 6 years I did not have any acid fruits or vegetables…but now I am eating them again ocasionally…my reflux is controled. I started drinking fresh papaya juice for six months and it helped me with my reflux… Do you think if I eat half grapefruit daily will be ok?. Thanks for all support.
Until soon,
Dora
Thanks for the grapefruit tip. Will get some immediately!!I need all the help I can get
Thanks for this information. I will now switch my morning orange for a grapefruit. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Vivian for your articles, I always learn something. I have never cared for grapefruit but will consider trying them again.I take some food supplements and vitamins are these safe with eating grapefruit? Thanks again for all your work. Wishing you a great New Year!! Connie
I have a red navel orange tree in my backyard. I have read that these trees also contain lycopene. I can’t eat grapefruit because 3 of my medications say not to eat it. Would eating red navel oranges be beneficial?
I have been eating some ruby grapefruit (though they are very expensive in England!) and I shall continue. I think you mentioned this in your book – and aren’t tomatoes good, too? They also contain lycopene.
Is eating one grapefruit per day sufficient or is Is more better?
If eating grapefuit helps our bones, I wish I had a grapefruit tree in the back yard or a friend who would ship some from Florida. I can’t believe how they have increased in price in our area, Charlotte, NC.
I am concerned however about the correlation of grapefruit and breast cancer.
Hate to sound negative, but my guess is we can last longer with osteoporosis than with breast cancer.
Hi Vivian,
As always, your article about grapefruit was interesting and helpful. I thank you so much for doing the “leg work” and passing such vital information along. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Eva
P.S. Just diagnosed with arthritis of my left hip. Any chance the benefits from the bone-rev diet could help fight arthritis?
Thank you Vivian, for the info on red grapefruit which I love, but don’t eat often. I’m going to start eating more now. I find all your articles very informative, thank you very much and have a very Happy and healthy holiday season. Dee
Good morning Vivian,
Thanks for the grapefruit news. I really love them… anything to help my bones is worthy of consuming… Wishing you a Happy, Holy Christmas… blessings…sharon
Hi Vvian
Thank you for the goods news …… I found it very interesting …..
You have give me hope about my osteoporosis.
I am afraid to take drugs.
I do enjoing your articles.
I always appreciate ,please keep doing the good work you are doing.
Thank you so much,
CLARA
I enjoy red grapefruit; lots of friends are sending us crates from Florida now. However, I’ve heard on good authority that grapefruit interferes with the absorbing certain meds and vitamins. Please clarify. Many thanx.
I’m wondering how much grapefruit one would need to consume in order to
receive this benefit? Is there a supplement one could take instead
and again, how much would have to be ingested?
I have been advised against taking grapefruit while using medication for hypertension
I take Tegretol and Dilantin for symptoms of MS (which contribute to my bone loss). However, I have heard that any grapefruit products reduce the effectiveness of the medication, so I have been avoiding them.
Texas Red Grapefruits are really and truly sweet. I never add sugar or any other sweetner to mine and I just cut one in half and section out the pieces. I was also told that grapefruit is a diurectic – I do loose a pound or two when I eat one.
I love grapefruit, especially the reds. Don’t buy them much because my daughter is in remission from breast cancer, and there has been various comments; and grapefruit was not allowed during chemotherapy.
I do not have osteoporosis, I HAD an M.D. who tried to prescribe bunches of meds I knew I didn’t need (I earned my BSN Summa Cum Laude, and have 30 years of hospital experience) and have been told by 2 other M.D.s that I have great bones. I do appreciate all the info, and I want Vivian’s book!
June
Hi Vivan thankyou for yr imformation and yr support this yr havn’t eaten grape fruit for a while.Stephen.
Thank you Vivian , good news. I love grapefruits i knew that this fruit has almost no sugar, which is great for us. I used to eat them waiting on he bus going home from work, and didn’t have sticky fingers .
Eva
Vivian,
There are many good questions in these posts. Can you do an email with the answers? Thank you. Bonnie
I eat grapefruit but not every day.I avoid cheeses and milk… enjoy soy milk. I have osteopena…. i eat healthy… and i do very well.
I love grapefruit especially now because they are in season. Thank you
I was under the impression that if you are taking any cholesterol lowering medications, that you shouldn’t eat grapefruit at all as it increases the effect of these drugs. I see from some of the comments that some people are taking their medication at night while eating grapefruit in the morning. I would like to hear more about this as I love the ruby reds and just hated to eliminate them from my diet.
I try to eat a grapefruit every day because I heard that grapefruit will help alkalize our body which will also help slow down osteoporosis. It is great that grapefruit also slows down bone loss. Thank you!
Never cared for grapefruit at all, but I will try to start eating it now.
Thank you so much for this information. I love grapefruit,I will start eating more.
Interesting – I am passing around this info amongst all my friends. Grapefruit sales are soon going to increase!
I eat grapefruit regularly. I love them. I peel them like oranges.
In regard to Francine Brooks pain, I thought that there was no pain with osteoporosis. I assumed that mine was from osteoarthritis. Vivian, please comment on this. Thanks!
Hi Vivian
I also thought there was no pain with osteoporosis. Just recently since diagnosed I have been taking Calcium d Forte. As I already have long standing back and shoulder damage (lost 2 discs and now have spondylolysthesis, and rotator cuff to shoulder) I am well used to pain. However recently the pain has felt much worse, like the pain valve has been opened up. Any ideas on this one.
thanks v much, Sandra ps find you a great help
Grapefruits are my least favorite fruit but Ill try to include them in my diet regularly. Would consuming Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice be a substitute for eating a grapefruit?
Very interesting. I dont eat grapefruit much. Maybe a good reason to do so. I do not know if I have osteoporosis but I am intolerant to dairy so have soy milk and take Magnesium. As I am more or less a vegan I have VB12 injections every two months. Also make sure I have enough natural foods with a good source of Calcuim and magnesium.
I have been eating red grapefruit for years and love it. I still take min. 1200 mg daily of calcium with D (1000 in pills, plus milk, yogurt, cheese), but osteoporosis still lingers. Have not noticed any improvement. Pain more severe when going up/down many steps or carrying heavy packages.
How about your magnesium – are you gettng 500 mg a day?
Vitamin K as well – but don’t overdue it.
I shall try this eating red grapefruit as I have osteoporosis and hope it will help me feel stronger. Here’s hoping. Never cared for regular grapefruit and hope I like these. Ruth
I eat red grapefruit all the time and just love it. Our Texas Ruby Red Grapefruits are never bitter. They are very sweet. I also take a statin but I eat the grapefruit in the morning and take the statin at night.
I meant to say that Grapefruit is not good for everyone- not anyone. Just be careful when you eat it and what meds you are on. Look it up on the internet too , to see which meds it interferes with…. just as calcium interferes with some meds – you need to know that.
Love to eat grapefruits, hope it doesn’t interfere with my taking the cholesterol lowering drug “statin” pravachol?! I take the grapefruit in the morning and statin at night, should be OK?!
Grapefruit interferes with a number of medications and is not good for anyone. Ask your Dr.
It is important to not take medication with grapefruit juice. Separate them by a few hours and it should not be a problem. Grapefruit is one of the most important citrus we have. As advised, always ask your physician if you have concerns. Most medications are not good for anybody either.
If you take no medications…then it’s good for you.
I will start eating grapefruit and hopefully it will help my osteoporosis.
Thanks.
Wasn’t there a study released recently which correlated grapefruit and breast cancer?
Although I love grapefruit, unfortunately citrus fruit gives me loose bowels.
Very interesting! I had not heard of this before. I do not care for the taste of fresh grapefruit. Too bitter fo me! Is there a capsule that you would recommend?
Carolyn
It is much healthier to eat the fruit. We need to stop using manufactured subsitutes for the real thing.
I also love grapefruit, but I have a question regarding what exactly is meant by the “pulp”. If I eat the fruit in the fashion where you spoon out the sections, am I still receiving the benefit? Thanks, Marlene
Hi Vivien, many thanks for all your informative ‘e’ mails, they really help. I have since come off Fosamax and am starting with adjustable weights as you suggested. I am having another bone density scan so that I can see the difference in 5 years time without the Fosamax. This artical is great for me because I love grapefruit. Are apples and Kiwi any good, as I have them every day?
Good on the rats !!!
I love grapefruit! I’ll be eating it more now.Thanks for letting us know.
I can’t have grapefruit since it enhances the effect of taking Coumadin.
Helen Lane
Wonderful! I’ll start eating red grapefruit regularly! That’s a terrific tip. Thank you. Cary Davis