An experimental study on 57 coronary bypass patients with elevated blood lipids indicates that the consumption of fresh grapefruit as part of a heart-healthy diet may help reduce blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels to fight against heart disease. Conducted by the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, the study reported significant reductions in total cholesterol (range 8 percent to 15 percent), LDL cholesterol (range 11 percent to 20 percent), and triglycerides (range 5 percent to 17 percent) after 30 days in those consuming a generally accepted diet for heart disease patients. This group had a diet that consisted of fruits, vegetables, limited fat as well as one white or red grapefruit every day while the control group consumed the same diet but without grapefruit.

Source: The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 2006 March 8;54(5):1887-92.