GRAPEFRUIT’S HEALTHY VIBE

More than just a vibrant fruit with refreshing taste, grapefruit is great for every body

LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, MA (March 27, 2007) – We’re all looking for easy ways to manage our health and in the 70’s the grapefruit was the magic food.  What was it about grapefruit that made us not only look good, but feel good?  First, grapefruit has long been thought to promote weight loss. In fact, researchers at Scripps Clinic recently confirmed through a 12-week study that simply adding grapefruit and grapefruit juice to one's diet can result in weight loss.  According to the study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, participants who drank a serving of grapefruit juice three times a day for 12 weeks lost 3.3 pounds compared to less than a pound for the participants who didn’t drink grapefruit juice, and many patients in the study lost more than 10 pounds. What’s more, wholesome, fiber-rich, water-filled foods like fresh grapefruit fill the stomach for a longer period of time with fewer calories than many snacks. 

Weight loss is not the only health benefit associated with grapefruit. Grapefruit also has benefits for promoting healthy aging.  Tracy Gensler, M.S., R.D., contributor to Self and Nick Jr. magazines and author of Anti-Aging Fitness Prescription, is a big believer in good nutrition as an important part of age-proofing your body.  “There are many reasons why the quality of our diet wanes with age, but eating a variety of fruits and vegetables such as grapefruit means less incidence of disease, more energy and generally good health,” said Gensler.  “Grapefruit juice is an excellent choice for ramping up your nutrient intake since it’s easy to serve and available all year long.” 

According to Gensler, grapefruit juice contains flavonoids, which act as antioxidants, proven to help fight against aging.  Antioxidants neutralize highly unstable and extremely reactive molecules called free radicals that attack the cells of our body every day.  Free radical damage is believed to contribute to a variety of health problems, including cancer, heart disease and aging.  Furthermore, research suggests that compounds in grapefruit called limonoids may inhibit tumor formation and early research shows that the pulp of citrus fruits like grapefruit may help in the fight against breast cancer.  Helping aid in the fight against aging, laboratory research out of Texas A&M indicates that citrus juice such as grapefruit juice may help build bone density, assisting in the prevention of osteoporosis.

In addition, studies have shown that natural vitamin C found in grapefruit juice may help build collagen in the skin, in turn reducing wrinkles and enhancing skin’s strength and elasticity.  With 110 percent of the recommended daily value in each serving, grapefruit juice will help achieve a youthful, healthy glow.  Grapefruit is also an excellent source of vitamin C that may help support the immune system and reduce cold symptoms. 

Carolyn O’Neil, M.S., R.D. an award winning food and health journalist and co-author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous! also recommends drinking grapefruit juice as part of a healthy diet.  “Ocean Spray’s Grapefruit juice is a win-win for taste and health,” says O’Neil.  “Grapefruit juice contains lycopene – a powerful antioxidant that may help prevent certain types of cancer, heart disease and stroke and is also a great source of potassium which helps the body maintain water balance and prevent muscle cramps.”

For a healthy and refreshing thirst quencher, Ocean Spray® Grapefruit juices and juice drinks are made with Ocean Spray® Grapefruits, picked at their peak of ripeness creating a juice that is a delicious natural source of energy.  Ocean Spray Premium 100% Juices White and Ruby™ are pure, energizing grapefruit juice that are naturally lower in calories than other traditional juices with no artificial flavors or preservatives. 

Ocean Spray Ruby™ Red and Ruby™ Tangerine Juice Drinks serve up an intensely sweet, tangy grapefruit taste for a quick pick-me-up anytime of day.  Light Ruby™ Grapefruit Juice Drink has 2/3 fewer calories, carbs and sugar – all in one refreshing glass.

Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 650 cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada as well as more than 100 Florida grapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed 75 years ago by three cranberry growers from Massachusetts and New Jersey. Florida grapefruit growers joined the Cooperative in 1976. Ocean Spray is North America’s leading producer of canned and bottled juices and juice drinks, and has been the best-selling brand name in the canned and bottled juice category since 1981. Ocean Spray posted fiscal 2005 gross sales of about $1.4 billion.