Grapefruit seeds are the pips that are found in grapefruits and they are often discarded. If you’re one of those people who like to try new things, you may wonder if you can eat the seeds of grapefruit.
Can You Eat Grapefruit Seeds?
Yes, you can eat grapefruit seeds. However, due to their bitterness, it is better to use them in cooking or as a garnishment on salads. Grapefruit seeds contains some nutrition that your body can benefit from so it’s worth adding them in your diet.
Are There Any Risks To Eating Grapefruit Seeds?
Grapefruit seeds are toxic when eaten in large quantities. They contain a compound called naringenin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea if consumed in large amounts. However, there’s no evidence that consuming grapefruit seeds can cause harm at normal levels of consumption.
In fact, some people claim that eating grapefruit seeds provides health benefits — but there isn’t any scientific evidence to back up these claims. And even if there were some benefits from eating the seeds, you’d have to eat an awful lot of them for any benefit!
Benefits Of Eating Grapefruit Seeds
Grapefruits are rich in vitamins and minerals, which are essential for maintaining a healthy body. This fruit contains significant amounts of vitamin C, folate, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin B6. It also contains antioxidants that help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals.
The following are some of the health benefits associated with eating grapefruit seeds:
Improved Digestion: The fruit’s digestive enzymes improve digestion by breaking down starches into simple sugars so that they can be absorbed efficiently into your bloodstream for energy production.
Lower Blood Pressure And Cholesterol: Grapefruit seeds help lower blood pressure levels by increasing metabolism and improving circulation within your arteries and veins. This helps reduce oxidative stress on your arterial walls caused by high cholesterol levels, which can lead to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries over time.
Vitamin C: Grapefruit seeds contain a small amount of vitamin C. This is about half as much vitamin C as you’d get from eating the fruit itself. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron from food and boost the immune system.
What Does Grapefruit Seeds Taste Like?
Grapefruit seeds have a strong citrus scent and do not have much of any taste of their own. However, if you cook them with other ingredients for a long time, then the resulting dish will taste like grapefruit!
The more heat that you apply to them, however, the stronger the flavor will become until there is no trace of sweetness left at all.
What Can You Do With Grapefruit Seeds?
The following are some of the ways you can use grapefruit seeds for culinary purposes:
1. Add them to salads: You can add grapefruit seeds to salads to give them extra flavor or you can use them as garnishes on top of your dish. Try adding them on top of your next salad or omelet for an extra crunch!
2. Use them as natural sweeteners: Grapefruit seeds contain limonoids which are known to be beneficial for weight loss because they suppress appetite. You can use these seeds as natural sweeteners instead of artificial ones like table sugar or honey because they don’t cause any side effects like bloating.
3. Use them as an alternative to peppers: Crush the seeds and use them like pepper on salads or sandwiches.
Conclusion
Not only can you eat the flesh of the grapefruit, but also the seeds. Due to their bitter taste, most people will use them in cooking for added nutrition or as garnishment on salads.
Kate has been in the food business for over 20 years. Worked as a cook at several buffets which include Old Country Buffet, Five Star Buffet, and Ichiban Buffet. Now, I’m mostly at home cooking for my family, caring for chickens and ducks, and tending the garden.
