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 love your advice on eating for good bone health. I love red grapefruit.
Thank you.
Hi Vivian, Its a great investigation in regard to the improve of bone density and calcium in the desease of osteosporosis. Hopping there wil be of great value to human people that neded to be health. Thanks for this great information.
I love grapefruit but since I have been on medicine for hypertension, my doctor told me NOT to eat grapefruit anymore.
Interesting rat study, but 5% of the diet is a lot of grapefruit! And what about the acidity? I love grapefruit, but end up with canker sores if I it very much.
Just read about the grapefruit and plants which will also help our bones. I LOVE grapefruit, so will have these AND my oranges, and I’m also off now to buy a plant.
Have been feeling sooo much better since starting your programme, and I just know that the exercises you gave us a while back are helping loads too. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Good news. I just have to go outside and pick some! Is grapefruit acid? My condition is because my system is acid (or so some have told me) and digestive. I am on enzymes so would this benifit me?
I have read about your info on grapefruit juice .Also I have read an article fromSunday Times Health Club Paper in England. Amanda Ursell
timesonline.co.uk/healthclub
Grapefruit not to be taken by people on statins cholesterol lowering drugs Scientists believe that nutrients called furanocourmarins suppress the action of CYP34A anenzyme in the digestive system and liver …see full article
I will try it! thank you for the information
Hi Vivian
Interesting article but grapefruit can also interfere with many prescription drugs and render them useless. I have had a kidney transplant and grapefruit and pomegranites were to the things I was told to avoid because of their affect on other medication. So just thought I would mention that.
Thanks,
Pat
Am sure it works, but grapefruit interferes with some medications.
That is not my problem, but, sorry, I do not like grapefruit!
Vivian, that is interesting about grapefruit but I have a problem with medications. What about tomatoes? I WOULD LIKE TO hear about them, please.
Audrey
I had a liver transplant; take anti rejection meds and the only thing I can’t eat or drink is grapefruit. Any suggestions or info on this subject?
I also have complicating factors of IBS and arthritis plus a sleep disorder. I worry that my Ph might never be alkaline enough due to chronic and unrelenting IBS since my mid twenties. I think heridity, stress, IBS, age, hormonal changes, lifelong sleep problems all contributed to my OsteoP. Unfortunately, women my age were told Vitamin D was bad for our liver and not to take it; now we are told to OD on Vita D. I also took calcium carbonate that was supposedly the best; however, was never told to take it with food. I exercised like a fiend for years all to no avail; because I had a tasty acidic diet; and was misinformed about calcium. I will always wonder if I had a proper diet and calcium would I have got OsteoP? Some people say they did everything right and still got OsteoP. I therefore think heredity and good digestive and overall health are very important factors.
For IBS please take probiotics at night and some fibro(flax seed powder, brown rice powder, oats).
Digestive enzimes also good. For better sleep take DHEA and melatonine or drink warm goat milk before bed. Some amino-acids will help too (arginine).
To get proper Ph you must drink beetroot/carrot/celery/pineaple/apple juice in any combination.
To help liver put dandelion leaf to your sandwich.
To get cacium in your body,,,take silica supplements.
I have IBS and do much better if I eat alot of soluble fiber which is mainly acidic. How can I control my PH level with a diet that is about 50% or more soluble fiber?
Hi Vivian,
Very interesting, unfortunately I have to watch my blood sugar and have been advised to stay away from citrus juices. I love grapefruit, maybe the odd red one will do more good than harm.
Gwen
Unfortunately, I’m not a rat… but at least, I’m not castrated!
Hi Neil,
Love your humor!
Hi Vivian,
I really enjoy reading your info…I will try eating more of the red grapefruit..I took myself off Actonel since my bone density got worse..Have an appointment with the NYU osteo center…want to hear what they say..definitely will not go back on any medicine..I feel soooo much better after being off the meds for 3 months.
Fran, you’re on the right track!
Hi Vivian, Just read about the Ocean and osteo.
I was brought up on a small peninsular in Mass.I went swimming everyday from spring until fall. Right now I have been having a 1/2 of a red grapefruit every morning. Have stopped my Actonel about 2 mos. ago. My Rheumatologist is not happy, however, as you say, it is my body. All the pain I had from my waist to my knees stopped withing 5-6 weeks after I stopped the Actonel She had given me prednisone for the pain. It didn’t even touch the powerful pain. I read your books almost every day for info. At 75 I am healthy and want to stay that way. Have had both knees replaced, both hands reconstructed and now osteoperosis. Hopefully I won’t get past the 2 fractures I have now. Thank you for helping all of us about those medications. Sincerely Carmel Langin
Vivian,
An interesting article but,unfortunately I take warfarin so I cannot eat grapefruit, and I love them, too.
Wilda
Good Morning Vivian,
Thank you for sharing your comments on red
grapefruit. I like grapefruit but haven’t
always eaten it on a daily basis. The new
crop of RioStar grapefruit is just in and I
plan to enjoy one each day. Thanks!
I am learning many new ideas from your newsletter. I have had my daughters receive your e-mails also. Keep up the good work.
Vivian, I live across from an orchard of grapefruit and didn’t take it for years because I was on statins……I went off Vytorin and went to Red Yeast Rice, which I just found out is a statin also, so no grapefruit for me…..maybe I should go off everything and eat the grapefruit and be healthy. R
Just found out you can eat grapefruit IF you take Crestor and a couple of other statins. I am so excited to be able to eat grapefruit again !!
However, if you take Lipitor and others with similar formulations, you are NOT to eat grapefruit.
Most of the people who ARE on Blood Pressure medication,are advised NOT to eat Grapefruit as it affects badly. Eating RAw Sesame seeds also contains good quality Calsium (natural source, that will help mentain bone density. Check the Hippocrates health institute program at West Palm Beach.
I was just reading in the Alive magazine the benefits of grapefruit, but it also mentioned the cautions when consuming grapefruit.
Would anyone be willing to share receipes with the alkaline acid combination. Vivian has a few in the back of her book. I need fresh ideas.
There is a book called the PH Miracle balance your diet by Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young. about food balancing and has some nice recipes in the back.
i am on Lipitor, and not to eat grapefruit,what about a substitute ?
I just completed reading your book which I ordered on Bone and osteoporosis treatment. I used to be on Fosamax. Recently, I had two new fractures of my vertebrae (total 5) and my rheumatologist said you must go on Fosamax, Evista or Actonel. I am still trying to make a decision even after reading your book. Maybe, I need some encouragement. He gave me a Rx for Actonel, monthly pill, but I have not used it yet.
Eleanor Henry
Thank you for all the work you have done in this area. I think we are getting insufficient info from doctors.
The comment is as follows: (I just completed reading your book which I ordered on Bone and osteoporosis treatment. I used to be on Fosamax. Recently, I had two new fractures of my vertebrae (total 5) and my rheumatologist said you must go on Fosamax, Evista or Actonel. I am still trying to make a decision even after reading your book. Maybe, I need some encouragement. He gave me a Rx for Actonel, monthly pill, but I have not used it yet.
Eleanor Henry
With tears in my eyes and my anxiety less heightened, I am so grateful to have found your program, Dr. Goldschmidt. I have never taken any drugs for my osteopena, now turned into osteoporous, and I hope never to going forward. I’m so happy to know I have options. I can’t wait to begin reading your “Guide” and following through with your suggestiona. Will hopefully speak with your personally real soon. Thanks so very, very. . .for sharing.
When you do respond to some of the questions in the comments section, can your responses be posted for all to see? I think it would be a great way to disseminate even more info than what you already generously provide.
thank you for passing along the alternative information on bone strenghtening!!
Thanks for the information on grapefruit and bananas. I feel these do not have the side effects that the medication I have been taking do. Thanks for all your information.
This will be the last email I send to you since you have not responded to mine. I will not send money via the net. Is there another way of obtaining your books perhaps by cheque?
Thanks Vivien for all your info.
I and people on statins are told not to eat grapefruit though.
Susan.
REMINDER: The efficacy of some prescription medications is affected by grapefruit juice. Check with your pharmacist about the ones you are taking. Also see Vivian’s comments on 12/20/08.
Grapefruit sounds good if you like it – is there nothing as good for grapefruit haters?
love the banna and grapefruit suggestions.thanks
How much grapefruit should one consume daily to help prevent bone loss?
Are you aware of the magnesium/calcium ratio?
It should be twice as much magnesium as calcium.
Silica is also a good item to be consuming to strengthen bones.
I believe it is actually twice as much calcium as magnesium.
For example, 1,000 mg. Calcium and 500 mg. Magnesium.
I enjoy your emails and information, good testimonies and encouragement.
I don’t read books but I read a lot of information through the websites.
I have been using Kangen water now for 6 months and it is helping me to be come more alkalized which is bring healing from many afflictions since I had a stroke and heart surgery. Bless you and all of us warriors in the battle for our bones and bodies.
Gayle
I have been taking Lipitor for many years. When I first started, I was told not to eat grapefruit or drink the juice. Then that changed to making sure you ate/drank several hours before taking the Lipitor. On my latest prescription, it says “Do not take WITH grapefruit or grapefruit juice.”
I have high BP and take Amlodipine and Atenolol but was never cautioned about grapefruit. Guess I had better call the pharmacist!
Grapefruit puts up my H B P and I feel terrible
I always appreciate your info. I grew up in Fl. so love red
grapefruit, especially. Unfortunately they are not readily available to me. Thanks.
Thanks for the information. Pink and red grapefruit are just about coming into season now. I will try and eat grapefruit at least 3 times a week.
I love grapefruit and wish I could eat it. However, since I am taking several medications for high BP and also Synthroid for my throid problem I do not eat grapefruit because I have heard that it lingers in the intestines and interferes with prescription medication. It either strengthens it or weakens the dose of your medication.
I find all this very interesting and am in a dificult situation as to the thought of following your advice. I have a lot of food intolerances and citrus is one of many things I cannot eat.I am trying to follow your diet but some things i don’t eat.
Hi Vivian,
thank you so much for replying to my 1st enquiry. Also thank you for all the information that has followed. You are the only person to respond and follow through with excellent information thank you. Will be writing seperately soon.
Is drinking Tropicana Ruby Red grapefruit juice with some pulp a good substitute for the whole grapefruit?
I do not drink juices, as I feel that eating the whole fruit is beneficial, i.e. the pulp. When you juice a fruit, you are throwing away the most important part, the pulp.
The pulp of a fruit is very important. When you juice a fruit, you are disposing of the most important part, the PULP.
Dear Vivian
I am unable to read your articles. As soon as
they lownload,the the screen goes blank. I have tried several times on several different articles, and the sme thing happens all the time.
What can I do to actually be able to read these articles.
Help, thank you very much.
Louise
Yay grapefruit! I’ve been eating a grapefruit almost every day for decades! Don’t be afraid of the sour taste so frequently associated with the fruit. Ruby Red grapefruit are wonderfully sweet! I peel them and eat them like oranges, no sugar or honey needed! If you have the patience, tear off the white pith from each segment & it’s a juicy fruit experience!
Don’t remove the pith – unless you are going to eat it separately. It is an exelent source of a bioflavonoid called RUTIN that strengthens blood vessel walls and can help you avoid all kinds of things such as varcose veins, hemorrhoids, anurisms, and some heart disease and for those who bleed or bruise easily it should improve that problem. Throw it out — uh, uh.!!!
I have Graves (overactive thyroid) also hb pressure and was advised to steer clear of grapefruit. Any advice out there.
cheers,
rose.
i just recently started buying and eating grapefruit again, thanks to info from you. thanks for everything!
mary
Dear Vivian,
Because of the many comments, I have not been able to get the flu and grapefruit email. I need both desparately.
Thank you
Louise
So are we saying bioflavinoids are good for bones.
If so this is the reason we must have equal amount of bioflavinoids and vit c in our vit c capsules. Not easy to get and it helps the vit c to work anyway.
You answered my question when I came to your list of drugs that interact with grapefruit. It’s a good list to keep handy. Thanks.