Grapefruit : High in nutritional and dietary value
Grapefruit is a popular fruit for health-conscious people who want to eat well. This article will explore how it's grown and what products come from it.
The name "grapefruit" combines the words "grape" and "fruit." It's a citrus fruit with yellow-orange color, common in subtropical areas. Grapefruit likely originated in Barbados.
Explorers discovered it there in the 1700s. Initially, they called it "the forbidden fruit." It grew very high, making it hard to reach.
Grapefruit grows in clusters on evergreen trees. These trees usually reach 16 to 20 feet tall. Some can grow much taller, up to 50 feet. The maximum height depends on where they grow.
These trees feature a rounded crown that's slightly long. Gray-brown bark covers the trunk. The branches are flexible and have a citrus scent. Large leaves, up to 7 inches long, cover the branches.
The trees become very attractive when they flower. Beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers appear at this time.
Grapefruits are popular worldwide. Their clustered fruit makes them look nice. Some cultures even use them to decorate homes for New Year's. But they are mainly valuable for their nutrition.
Besides eating them, grapefruits have other uses. People extract essential oils and seed extract from the fruit. The pulp and membrane extract are used in cosmetics. Even the grapefruit peel has nutritional and medicinal value.
Juice is the main thing made from grapefruits. It can be liquid, frozen, or concentrated. The peel's white part, called albedo, is used to make jam and candied fruit. Molasses comes from peel waste. After drying, the pulp can feed livestock.
Grapefruits are preserved well. They keep their vitamins even when heated. Coumarin acids, flavonoids, and zest come from production waste. The tree's flowers, leaves, and wood also have some value.
