Grapefruit

Grapefruit/Nutrient Depletion:

  • LipidsLipids: A 16-week double-blind, crossover study evaluating 27 patients with hypercholesterolemia at risk for coronary heart disease found that grapefruit pectin ingestion decreased plasma cholesterol level by 7.6%, LDL cholesterol by 10.8%, and LDL/HDL ratio by 9.8% (19).
  • PotassiumPotassium: In vivo study has found that the dietary flavonoids in grapefruit juice may inhibit the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which oxidizes cortisol to inactive cortisone, in a concentration dependent manner (28). High doses were observed to cause an apparent mineralocorticoid effect and theoretically, some individuals might increase their potassium clearance if they drink large amounts of grapefruit juice. In theory, grapefruit may lower potassium levels in the blood.