Grapefruit is a fruit rich in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants that are beneficial to health. However, not everyone is suitable to eat grapefruit, because grapefruit contains active ingredients that can cause adverse biological interactions or aggravate some health conditions.
First of all, people who are taking certain medications need to pay special attention. Grapefruit contains compounds that can affect drug metabolism in the liver, changing drug levels in the blood. This can increase side effects or reduce treatment effectiveness.
Drugs that are often warned about interacting with grapefruit include cardiovascular drugs, statin cholesterol lowering drugs, some blood pressure drugs, and anxiety medications. Therefore, patients need to consult a doctor before adding grapefruit to their diet.
Next, people with stomach and digestive problems should also be cautious. Grapefruit is highly acidic, when eaten at an empty time or a lot can cause increased phagocytosis, worsening stomach pain, reflux or ulcers. People with sensitive digestive systems need to adjust their grapefruit intake appropriately or limit eating when symptoms are developing.
People with low blood pressure are also the group to consider. Grapefruit has the ability to help lower blood pressure slightly thanks to its ability to dilate blood vessels, so eating a lot can make people with low blood pressure feel dizzy and tired.
Similarly, people with kidney disease during the period of decreased filtering function should also reduce the amount of grapefruit, because the potassium in grapefruit can overload the body if not effectively eliminated.
Finally, people with allergies to citrus fruits should completely avoid grapefruit to prevent allergic reactions such as rashes, itching or difficulty breathing.
Although grapefruit is good for health, its use should be suitable for each specific condition. Knowing that groups should not eat grapefruit will help each person make the right, safer and more effective choice in health care.