All my life grapefruit has been one of the those foods that 'healthy' people eat. You know, when you go to the breakfast buffet they have those pink halves all ready to go for the skinny ladies with the will power to resist the waffle maker and the omelette bar and even the chocolate croissants? I always thought there was a special reward for those who could make such a sacrifice in the name of health and beauty, but apparently it's a bit more complicated than that.
Turns out that `grapefruit contains the compound furanocoumarin, which blocks the enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4, used to metabolize many drugs.` If the enzyme is blocked, the potency of certain prescription drugs can quickly reach toxic levels in the blood stream causing a real health risk.
Canadian researchers found that up to 85 different brands of medication were affected.
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