Grapefruit is an excellent source of many nutrients and phytochemicals, able to contribute to a healthy diet. Grapefruit is a good source of vitamin C,pectin fiber, and the pink and red hues contain the beneficial antioxidant lycopene. Studies have shown grapefruit helps lower cholesterol and there is evidence that the seeds have high levels of antioxidant properties. Grapefruit forms a core part of the grapefruit diet, the theory being that the fruit's low glycemic index is able to help the body's metabolism burn fat. Grapefruit can have a number of interactions with drugs, often increasing the effective potency of compounds. Grapefruit seed extract has been claimed to be a strong antimicrobial with proven activity against bacteria and fungi. Grapefruit contains naringin, bergamottin and dihydroxybergamottin, which inhibit the protein isoform CYP3A4 in the intestine. It is via inhibition of this enzyme that grapefruit increases the effects of a variety of drugs.
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