Glorious Grapefruit!

I'm sitting at my desk, feeling the first hunger pang of the early afternoon when I realize I have a beautiful pink grapefruit within my reach. My first inclination is to get a good whiff of the unpeeled fruit. The smell reminds me of my grandmother who lived in Arizona. She had all kinds of citrus fruits dangling just outside her doorstep. What a dream! This took me on a little tangential daydream about visiting her when I was young...

Aside from the reminiscing, the scent also seemed to alert my senses and have a calming effect. This fruit has so many beneficial qualities. This website was very informative, so have a look around for yourself.

My grapefruit. From here via here.

Aside from the nutritional aspects, the essential oil in the peel has it's own powerful properties. I find that the scent uplifts my mood and makes me more alert. It also has sanitizing properties. I mix a few drops of the oil with water into a spritzer bottle to use as an air freshener. It can also be combined with tea tree oil or peppermint oil to be used as a counter cleaner, or yoga mat spray.

Indeed, I must confess, I scratched the surface of the peel to find fresh grapefruit oil, and I may have dabbed a bit on my wrists as a perfume. The oil can be irritating to the skin, so use caution.

I use the Aura Cacia essential oil. It can be purchased at Whole Foods, or online practically anywhere. I've also been using a rose hip oil on my face at night, and I've been mixing in a drop or two of the Grapefruit oil and the Bergamot oil in the palm of my hand before applying to the face.

Also, don't forget to zest your citrus fruits before eating them. I often use lemon zest on roasted veggies and in cupcakes and icings. I'm thinking there will be a grapefruit zest recipe in our near future!

nom nom nom!