Your cardiovascular health is significantly affected by your sleep, diet, and physical activity. Therefore, you may suffer from various heart issues of you follow a poor, unhealthy diet, do not exercise, or irregularly sleep.
Such a poor lifestyle Increases the levels of cholesterol, which is one of the most silent and deadly threats.
Fortunately, the blood pressure and the blood lipid levels may be easily reduced by incorporating certain changes in the diet.
All you need to do is to add grapefruit and celery into your daily diet, and you will enjoy numerous health benefits.
Grapefruit contains a flavonoid known as naringenin, which treats diabetes, controls cholesterol, and prevents other metabolic issues. It reduces cholesterol, as well as the release of bile acid in the liver.
On the other hand, it stimulates the fatty acid oxidation, regulates blood sugar, supports cholesterol metabolism, and beneficially affects the function of the kidneys, and the insulin response.
Celery includes a compound called 3-n-butyl phthalide which provides its specific aroma and flavor. This compound lowers blood pressure. Having potent diuretic properties, celery effectively detoxifies the blood.
Moreover, it acts as a vasodilator and improves the elasticity of the blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.
This vegetable fights inflammation, insomnia, treats cancer, lowers the risk of stomach ulcer, treats obesity, improves the integrity of the stomach lining, prevent diabetes, and controls stomach secretions.
Here are some of their combined benefits:
- Reduce and control cholesterol levels
- Reduce blood acidity
- Fight fever
- Reduce sugar and starch in the body, and thus help weight loss
- Regulate blood sugar
- Promote good sleep
Here is a delicious and simple recipe which blends the benefits of these two ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 2 stalks of celery
- 1 grapefruit
- 1/4 lemon
- 1/2 inch ginger
Method of preparation:
Place all ingredients in the blender and mix them well. Strain before consumption.
Additional tip:
You should not consume grapefruit or its juice in case you are taking some medications, as it may interfere with the drugs’ metabolism.
It may interfere with the following:
- Viagra and erectile dysfunction drugs
- Immune suppressant drugs
- Methadone and some other painkillers
- Antihistamines
- Certain cholesterol medications (Zocor, Mevacor, Lipitor, Vytorin)
- Psychiatric drugs (valium, Buspar, Halcion, Zoloft, Versed, Tegretol)
- Blood pressure medications (Plendil, Adalat, Procardia, Nitrendipine)