by Celestia Loeffler of Yoga and Yum

Grapefruits are a beautiful citrus fruit that can help bring a little zest into our lives, and help get our bellies back on track.

According to Ayurveda (yoga’s sister science), bitter and sour are the two flavors to favor this month, as we transition past holiday indulgence and move toward cleansing in preparation for spring.

Grapefruit offers both, and is a delicious canvas for other digestive boosters such as ginger and cardamom. And an added bonus: grapefruit improves fat metabolism, and encourages bile to move through the liver for a cleansing effect. Yum yum!

Honey (local and organic if possible!) is a wonderful sweetener in small doses. Like grapefruit, it stimulates fat metabolism, so you can enjoy this combination without guilt. If using, make sure to drizzle the honey on after the grapefruits are baked. Honey is widely considered to become toxic when exposed to extreme heat.

And feel free to try other flavor combinations as well! Try it with a dusting of cinnamon and a sprinkle of walnuts for a little variety. Enjoy!

This recipe was inspired by Joyful Belly Ayurveda and More than Paleo. 

Ingredients

1 grapefruit, rinsed, sliced in half, and seeded
Pinch ground cardamom
Pinch dried and ground ginger
Drizzle of local, organic honey

Alternate topping:
Sprinkle of ground cinnamon
Handful of chopped walnuts

Method

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit (200 degrees celsius)
Place the grapefruit halves, rind down, on a parchment-lined cookie sheet (baking tray)
Sprinkle with your spices
Place the cookie sheet in the oven for 15 minutes or so
Allow to cool a smidge, serve, and enjoy!

Benefits

Cardamom: This spice is an excellent source of iron and manganese, making it a rock star for blood and cellular regeneration. It also contains significant amounts of riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, and can be used as an anti-spasmodic and digestive aid. Great for the belly AND the heart. See here for more health benefits and nutritional info.

Ginger: Ginger is very effective in alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal distress such as gas, bloating, motion sickness, and morning sickness. See here for more health benefits and nutritional information.

Grapefruit: This citrus fruit is packed with vitamins C and A. The pink varieties are an excellent source of the phytonutrient, lycopene, which has been touted for its ability to battle cancer-causing free radicals. Grapefruits also contain phytonutrients called “limonoids” which help inhibit tumor formation and growth. See here for more health benefits and nutritional information.

Honey: Often called “nature’s sweetener,” local, raw, honey is a great way to add sweetness to your life. Raw honey is packed with vitamins and minerals and offers anti-bacterial  and anti-viral properties. But according to the ayurvedic tradition, don’t cook honey. Adding significant heat to honey both strips it of its vitamins, minerals, and enzymes while creating cellular toxicity. So add it to your cool dishes, or to warmer dishes AFTER they have finished cooking. See here for more health benefits and nutritional info.

About the author

Celestia Loeffler, RYT 500, is a Yoga Alliance-certified yoga instructor who specialises in personalised yoga therapy and wellness mentoring. She is also a published author and award winning editor who loves to write about all topics related to health and wellbeing.Celestia offers a variety of vinyasa based yoga classes and retreats, and is passionate about helping others to unlock their full potential. When not on her yoga mat, Celestia is whipping up healthy and delicious seasonal recipes, snuggled up with a book, or adventuring in the great out-of-doors. Find her her at Yoga and Yum and Celestia Yoga.