Grapefruit as an Aid for Weight Loss

A recent study published in the Nutrition and Metabolism Journal and conducted at Vanderbilt University found that people who consumed 1/2 a grapefruit or 1/2 a glass of grapefruit juice or water while on a low calorie diet lost weight.  Also lowering weight circumference and BMI (Body Mass Index).
While the water and grapefruit juice drinking group both lost weight the grapefruit consuming group also had other positive health benefits, increasing HDL (good cholesterol), decreasing appetite and increasing vitamin C and fiber intake.


Source

1. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-research-suggests-grapefruit-can-play-a-role-in-weight-loss-success-120766839.html

Grapefruit Sorbet

This first class recipe comes from the Asheville based food blog A Spicy Perspective 



Grapefruit Basil Sorbet  Fat Free*Gluten Free*Dairy Free


Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 1 ¾ cups sugar
• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• 1 packed cup of basil leaves
• pinch of salt
• 4 large ruby red grapefruits, juiced

Method:

1. Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Once boiling add the lemon zest, basil leaves and salt. Stir, remove from heat, and cover. Steep the basil leaves in the simple syrup for at least 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, add the lemon juice to a 4-cup measuring pitcher. Juice the grapefruits into the pitcher until you’ve measured 3 cups of combined juices. 
3. Strain the simple syrup and discard the basil leaves. Then mix the syrup with the juice. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours (or to speed up, put in the freezer for 1 hour.)
4. Pour the sorbet mixture into an electric ice cream maker. Turn on and mix for 20+ minutes, until the mixture reaches a “soft serve” consistency.
5. Eat immediately, or put in an airtight container and freeze.
6. After frozen, allow the sorbet to sit out for 10-15 minutes to soften before serving.

Makes approximately 1 ½ quarts of heaven!

*If you don't own an ice cream machine, you could freeze the mixture and shave it with a spoon for "Italian Ice."

Salmon Marinated in Grapefruit Juice

The following recipe comes from Chow and Chatter, its easy to make and a fun way to use our wonderful grapefruits ;-)



Ingredients:

• 2 large wild Alaskan salmon steaks 
• 4 large potatoes chopped
• one bunch of spinach
• 4 cloves of garlic
• some olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• about 1/4 cup of grapefruit juice with a teaspoon of sugar and a few segments of grapefruit
• tablespoon of butter and 1/4 cup milk to mash potatoes 
• 1/4 chopped red onion

Method:

1. soak salmon in olive oil, salt and pepper and grapefruit juice for a couple of hours
2. then poach it in the oil and juice for about 10 minutes until cooked
3. meanwhile saute fresh spinach with a little olive oil, garlic and red onion for 10 minutes
4. boil potatoes and mash them
5. serve and enjoy