First it was reported that eating grapefruit can interfere with blood pressure, cholesterol, heart and a host of other medications. (This site is a helpful resource. It lists medicines that are affected by grapefruit juice consumption.)
Because grapefruit juice contains chemicals that can cause problems with how one's body metabolizes a drug/medicine, medicines that may be susceptible to this risk are required to have warnings in the patient information...all that fine print stuff that comes with your prescription. But many people rely upon their physician and skip the magnifying glass reading. If this sounds like you, check out the above site and do your research.
Anyway, now, a new study suggests that eating as little as ONE quarter of the juicy fruit can raise the risk of breast cancer 30% in older women. The bottom line finding was that grapefruit appears to raise levels of oestrogen--a hormone that has been linked to breast cancer.
And this isn't just any 'ol fly by night quickie, headline grabbing study of 15 people. This study was reported in the British Journal of Cancer and was based upon a sample size of 50,000 post-menopausal women.
So if your breakfast routine includes grapefruit, check your medications and take care.
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Here's the deal regarding
Here's the deal regarding grapefruit JUICE and medications: grapefruit CAN have an effect for more than 24 hours so those taking certains meds such as Felodipine (calcium blocker), nefedipine (same), many statins such as lipitor, lovastatin, simvastatin, some benzodiazepines, and estrogens MUST be VERY careful. Spacing doses does not work, again because the effect can exceed 24 hours. And the studies demonstrate that one glass of juice or one grapefruit can do the damage.
So if you are on a medication that has any grapefruit warning, do the safe thing and avoid the lovely fruit. So what is the "bad" effect? The juice can turn a normal does into a superdose-- e.g., overdose.
I am not as sure on the whole estrogen thing...
Does grapefruit raise blood
Does grapefruit raise blood pressure in those with high blood pressure? Does it only affect those on bp meds or is this for anyone with blood pressure problems
But i thought that if you are
But i thought that if you are post menopausal..you are low on estrogen...isn't hormone therapy all about supplimenting the low levels of hormones, estrogen included?... so raising the levels of estrogen slightly in a woman that is low on estrogen would be a good thing... wouldn't it?
Andre, please check out the
Andre, please check out the British Journal of Cancer Study and let us know what you think. As with many recent studies, the "results" seem to change over time. In any case, if the study does hold water, it is something that any post-menopausal woman should consider. We LOVE grapefruit here!
Sir/Ms: Kindly give more
Sir/Ms: Kindly give more information: race, ethnic group, previous history of any cancer, "organic" ( I doubt it), pink or white grapefruit, Juice or pulp or both, AND what about the effect upon MEN? Your site is the only one that "destroys grapefruit." The Mayo Clinic and other prestigious institutions are still positive on grapefruit. Thank you
Mary, You probably
Mary,
You probably skimmed the post. It says "postmenopausal" -- next to last paragraph. 50k post-menopausal women were studied.
Any idea what the study
Any idea what the study findings mean by the term "older women"? ie - Over 60? post-menopausal?
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