Pretty and pink and thirst-quenching too! I put a Healthy Living How To spin on a no sugar added grapefruit spritzer made from three healthy ingredients, grapefruit, club soda and stevia. For less than 10 calories and 2 g of carbs you can enjoy grapefruit juice even if you live a low-carb lifestyle.
The Glories of Grapefruit
1. Pink and red grapefruit are rich in lycopene, a phytonutrient that provides protection against free-radical activity. This basically means it protects our cells from getting rusty. No one wants rusty cells.
2. Grapefruits are a source of vitamins C and A, which are known to support the immune system. I think we all need a little immune boosting insurance right about now.
3. Another phytonutrient found in grapefruit, limonoids, promote the formation of an enzyme that aids in liver detoxification. The liver removes toxins and metabolic waste from the body by converting them to water-soluble compounds. Our body’s natural detoxification, may be impaired or less efficient, due to many factors, one of which is inadequate nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
4. Pantothenic acid, aka vitamin B5, plays an important role in the body's production of energy. You might have guessed it already…grapefruits are a good source of this energy producing vitamin.
5. The peak grapefruit season is the winter months. During this time the concentration of nutrients and flavor are highest. Oh and the cost is at its lowest as well. They are also juicier when slightly warm and can be stored at room temp for about 5 days.
For more scientific based information about grapefruit you can check out this reference.
Now the not so good…grapefruit juice may have adverse reactions when combined with certain medications.
Drugs that carry an interaction risk include Zocor and Lipitor, which are used to lower cholesterol; Nifediac and Afditab, which lower blood pressure; and some opioid pain relievers like oxycodone. Other medications that can't be combined include some anti-infective, anti-cancer, cardiovascular and urinary tract infection medications. Source
Ingredients
- 1 Medium Grapefruit
- Club Soda
- Liquid Stevia
Directions
- Peel grapefruit, divide into sections, remove skin and seeds.
- To a high-powered blender add only the innards of the grapefruit.
- Puree until smooth.
- You will end up with approximately 8 oz. of grapefruit puree.
- Stored unused puree covered in refrigerator for up to one week.
- Fill a pint glass with ice, add 2 oz. of grapefruit puree, 8 oz. of club soda and liquid stevia to taste.
- Enjoy!
Notes
One medium grapefruit yields approximately 8 oz. of grapefruit puree. Per 2 oz. Serving 10 calories, 0 g fat, 2 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 0 g pro
Is it wrong that I want to add a shot of vodka to this? Must be Friday! Thankfully, I am not on any of these medications…
Not wrong at all! Happy Friday.
Not a believer in any kind of weird sugar, so even though I’m low-carb, we’ll still either use organic sugar or go without. Have you tried it without? Is it tolerable? Sounds absolutely amazing – I love, love, love grapefruit and since I can’t tolerate alcohol anymore (I’d gladly be an alcoholic, ((yes, joking)) but apparently I can’t handle the sugar. At all.) 🙁 So, this is the perfect drink! I can’t wait! THANK YOU so much for this! Please let me know if you’ve tried anything besides stevia – honey or maple?
Thanks for you comment Raechelle….I have not tried this with anything other than stevia.
Thanks! Sounds yummy. I also loved your recipe for a mock margarita 🙂