The
article I read entitled, “Florida researchers develop medically safer hybrid
grapefruit” talks about creating a hybrid grapefruit that people can eat even
if they are on medications that warn them not to eat grapefruit while taking
the medicine. Many people take
medications that have adverse effects if mixed with grapefruit. According to citrus researcher and breeder,
Fred Gmitter, “The problem with grapefruit is a family of organic chemical furanocoumarins
believed to inhibit enzymes from breaking down certain medication, leading to
drugs entering the blood stream in higher concentrations that intended, causing
an overdose.” (Furanocoumarins, or furocoumarins, are a “class of organic
chemical compounds produced by a variety of plants.” http://www.chacha.com/question/what-is-furanocoumarin
).
To test
that this grapefruit is good for people on these medications, they did “tests
of the juice in human cell cultures”.
When they got the results, they pointed out that there would be no
dangerous side effects but to make absolutely sure of this they would need to
conduct “human clinical trials”. The
University of Florida, is already working on “commercializing the hybrid, a
cross between pomelos and red grapefruit” which could take up to five to seven
years to produce in large volume.
All of
the characteristics of the hybrid grapefruit overpower the characteristics of a
regular Florida grapefruit. The hybrid
was tested in focus groups and met approval because it was “seedless, and
larger, juicier, sweeter and less bitter than a standard grapefruit”.
At the
end of the article, Gmitter talks about receiving many phone calls from people
complaining about not having grapefruit and how they miss it. Gmitter explains
once word got out about this hybrid grapefruit, people who had been told not to
eat grapefruit due to their medications, were calling complaining about not
having grapefruit, where can they get this new grapefruit and how they miss grapefruit.
“I miss my Florida grapefruit, when can I have this grapefruit, I miss
grapefruit so much.”
I know
firsthand what it means not to be able to eat grapefruit due to
medication. A year ago, I was prescribed
Verapamil for my migraines. My doctor
told me that eating grapefruit would increase the strength of the
medicine. This would not be good since
Verapamil is designed to lower your blood pressure. I am happy that I have been off Verapamil for
a year now and can enjoy the pleasure of eating grapefruit and don’t need to
worry if it’s a hybrid.
Check this
article out!
