Grapefruit a Go-go
February is National Grapefruit Month. Makes sense--they're in season. Think you know all there is to know about the grapefruit? Sure, it's touted as the weight loss fruit, partly because of its diuretic properties. Sure, it's loaded with vitamin C--it is a citrus fruit after all. But it's a youngster in the citrus family (under 300 years old) and recent studies suggest that just wearing the scent can make others think you are younger than your years (hopefully also under 300!). Sniffing it can quell cravings and curb appetite. Adding a few drops of grapefruit essential oil to your bath, along with some juniper and fennel essence (don't forget the carrier oil) makes for a slimming, spirit-lifting, soul-soothing soak. Sinking your teeth into its succulent sections brings a boost of nutrition: lots of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, plus stress-reducing B vitamins (sans B12). In the vitamin A department, ruby red and pink grapefruit outshine the white variety by a mile! And Florida grapefruit are lower in calories than the California kind--who knew! Grab one, or a cluster (that's how they grow, hence the name). Grapefruit is a great fruit to make you feel sunny in the middle of winter.