First of all, we must create a rumor that some irresponsible articles on the Internet actually say that eating grapefruit can lower blood sugar. This is not right. Although the sugar content of grapefruit is not high, it still contains carbohydrates. As long as you eat it, it will be digested and absorbed, raising blood sugar but not lowering blood sugar. Fortunately, grapefruit has little effect on blood sugar, and diabetics can eat it in moderation.
Citrus fruits-oranges, lemons, oranges, grapefruit
What food is suitable for diabetics should refer to two indicators, one is glycemic index and the other is glycemic load index.
The glycemic index GI reflects the ability of food to raise blood sugar. The glycemic index of glucose is 100. Compared with glucose, the glycemic index is greater than 70, which is a food with high glycemic index. If the glycemic index is between 55 and 70, it is called a food with a medium glycemic index. If the glycemic index is less than 55, it belongs to low glycemic index food.
The glycemic load index GL reflects the pressure of food on the increase of blood sugar. The calculation method is to use the product of the total carbohydrate in food and the glycemic index of this food and then divide it by 100. A blood sugar load less than 10 is a hypoglycemia load, a blood sugar load between 10 and 20 is a moderate one, and a blood sugar load greater than 20 is a hyperglycemia load.
The glycemic index of grapefruit is only 25, which is definitely a food with little effect on blood sugar. Blood sugar will not rise rapidly after eating. The sugar content of grapefruit is 5~7%, which is relatively low in fruits. Calculated by 7%, the blood sugar load of 100g grapefruit is 25*7/ 100= 1.75, which has little pressure on blood sugar.
So diabetics don't have to worry about blood sugar when they eat grapefruit. Of course, we should still pay attention to eating grapefruit in moderation, eating 200 ~ 300 grams a day. It's best to eat in two or three portions.
Grapefruit and cut path isolated on white background.
Although eating grapefruit for diabetics has little effect on blood sugar, there is still a problem to consider when eating grapefruit. Pomelo fruits all contain a substance called furan coumarin, and the content of grapefruit is particularly high. This substance will interfere with CYP3A4 enzyme in the liver, which is needed for the metabolic decomposition of many drugs. If you eat grapefruit while taking medicine, it is likely to have more serious side effects.
At present, there are about 85 drugs that need CYP3A4 enzyme to metabolize, including statins, antihypertensive drugs, sedatives, sleeping pills, antiallergic drugs and so on. People with diabetes are often complicated with hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and it is very likely that they are taking the above drugs. If you eat too much grapefruit, it may aggravate the side effects of these drugs. Fortunately, among grapefruit, only the content of furanocoumarin in grapefruit is particularly high, and the content of other varieties is relatively low. Eating two or three hundred grams has little effect.
Grapefruit dessert
There are many articles about the benefits of eating grapefruit, such as vitamins, flavonoids and polyphenols. It seems that grapefruit has quite magical health care effect. Actually, it's all a little exaggerated. There is a simple reason. Grapefruit does contain a variety of beneficial plant compounds, but the amount of grapefruit eaten is limited, which can not significantly reduce blood lipid, blood sugar and blood pressure. A long-term healthy diet will bring benefits to your health. Eating half a catty of fruit every day is only part of a healthy diet, and grapefruit is just one of many fruits. The correct way to eat fruit is to eat half a catty every day, and change varieties to get the greatest health benefits.