Latest news with #grapefruit
Times
2 days ago
- General
- Times
Battersea neighbours campaign to protect rare grapefruit trees
A race is on to save two rare fruiting grapefruit trees which were brought to the UK as saplings from the Caribbean more than 40 years ago. Marline Calliste Anderson travelled over 4,000 miles from Grenada with the pink grapefruit sprigs in her bag and planted them outside her flat in south London as a reminder of home when she emigrated in the mid-1980s. The trees have since thrived, defying the less-than-balmy climate of Battersea to provide residents of Queenstown Road with a steady supply of citrus fruit. Anyone who finds a pink grapefruit on the pavement is encouraged to 'gather what nature let fall' — a gift from Anderson from beyond the grave. Following her death aged 77 in June, campaigners are now calling on Wandsworth council to issue a tree preservation order to stop the now 40ft trees being cut down when her flat is sold. 'It's about legacy,' said Lior Berman, 47, who is leading the campaign. '[Anderson] grew these trees with a lot of love and sweat and she was happy to share this fruit. She said she was worried that after she died something was going to happen to the trees.' The community is awaiting a response from the council, which carried out an evaluation last week. A Wandsworth council spokesman said: 'We are awaiting the results of this to confirm if a tree preservation order can be put in place.' 'People will really fight for this,' said Berman, a chef who runs Lior's Kitchen in Clapham. She learned the story of the trees after chatting with Anderson, and used the 'delicious, sweet' grapefruits to make jam. Other neighbours have used them in drinks, cooking and essential oils. While the council decides whether to protect the tree, a plaque has been made in Anderson's honour. It reads: 'In loving memory of Marline Calliste Anderson — 19th January 1948 — 11th June 2025. She planted this grapefruit tree with love in the 1980s. 'A gift from her homeland, Grenada. It bears fruit year-round, her essence lives on in its roots.' Vas Ermakova, 37, who commissioned the plaque, remembered her elderly neighbour fondly, as 'a very spiritual woman, very funny, very witty, very kind. [She] took in everybody, everybody looked after her. It's because of Marline that tree has grown and took to the ground. 'She wanted to bring Grenada back with her. She always had green fingers, she was a nature woman, she was a bit of a rebel. She loved that tree dearly, she wanted her ashes scattered under them as well.' One neighbour is understood to be opposing the preservation order because the trees block the light from entering their flat. Residents say they prune the tree regularly. Paul Sealy, a neighbour of 25 years, recalled how Marline believed the tree was 'blessed'. 'She said [she wanted to] protect it because it is a very blessed tree. She had doubts it would even grow, she said she planted it and it started doing its thing and grew into the beautiful tree it is. 'It has grown into a monster. She would say help yourself to the grapefruits. It's a celebrity on this road, the amount of people that stop and take pictures, all the time.' The plaque also includes a message from Marline: 'Kindly refrain from picking from the tree. You are welcome to gather what nature has let fall.' Sealy told the BBC that he believes he may have received another message from Marline. 'A funny thing happened after she passed away. I was on my way home and just as I got underneath the tree a grapefruit dropped directly in front of me. That's never happened before. 'Could be just coincidence, but I look at that as her sending a sign from beyond to say 'look after my tree'.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Battersea neighbours campaign to protect grapefruit tree in woman's memory
If there's a breeze blowing as you walk down Queenstown Road in Battersea, you might smell the scent of fresh if you look up outside one of the front gardens, you might see dozens of grapefruits of different colours and sizes, from small dark green balls that look like limes, to ripe golden globes ready to drop on to the street grapefruit tree is thought to be the only one of its kind in the UK growing outside of Kew was brought from Grenada to south-west London as a sapling in the 1980s by one of the street's residents, Marline Anderson, who recently passed neighbours have started a campaign to get a council preservation order to make sure it is never cut down. "I just love the fact that I can lean out of my window and take a grapefruit for my breakfast every morning," says Vasilisa Ermakova, who has lived in the local authority flat above Marline's for 11 years, and who was with Marline in hospital when she passed away in June. They were great friends and Vas describes their relationship as "spiritual"."Age didn't matter. Even though she was 77 she was like a child inside so we had a lot of fun, taking pictures, dressing up," she says."And because she couldn't walk very well we had to do the fun inside the house. We had some really good times." But there is a concern that because Marline is no longer around to protect her tree, and the flat belongs to Wandsworth Council, the tree might be removed at some chef Lior Berman says she is determined to not let that noticed the tree some years ago on her way to the local park and has started the move to protect it. "There is no reason to remove a healthy tree," she says."For the sake or the rarity of the tree, for the sake of the tree itself, for her, for us. We have this tree, why not keep it?"Paul Sealy, who lives next door, agrees."I definitely think the council should protect it. Especially as they've said it's the only one in London apart from Kew Gardens where they have trees like this growing," he says."And it's a brilliant landmark for me if anyone's coming to my house. I live right next to the grapefruit tree, easy to find me." A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: "A Tree Evaluation Method for Preservation Order was carried out on this tree on the 4 August. "We are awaiting the results of this to confirm if a Tree Preservation order can be put in place."Meanwhile, Vas has had a memorial plaque made to remember Marline and to explain the tree's history to anyone walking by."Her last wish was for me to do a plaque on the tree to say where it's from, and why she planted it," says Vas."However we've put it on the front so people don't knock on the door and we don't have to keep telling people off for constantly trying to get the grapefruits down."There is a message on it from reads: "Kindly refrain from picking from the tree. You are welcome to gather what nature has let fall." Paul believes an other-worldly message may have come from Marline to him too."A funny thing happened after she passed away. I was on my way home and just as I got underneath the tree a grapefruit dropped directly in front of me. That's never happened before," he says with a wry smile."Could be just coincidence, but I look at that as her sending a sign from beyond to say 'look after my tree'. RIP Marline."
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors Are Begging You To Avoid Grapefruit if You Take These Common Medications
Doctors Are Begging You To Avoid Grapefruit if You Take These Common Medications originally appeared on Parade. Grapefruit is generally great for you—it's rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, potassium, thiamine, folate and magnesium, plus even a smidgen each of some B vitamins, copper, iron and zinc. It's also low in calories considering how many benefits it has, clocking in at about 50 calories for half of a medium-sized said, it's not good for warn that there are actually some medications that have potentially dangerous interactions with grapefruit. Find out what those meds are, plus the specific risks and what to do if you slip up and have grapefruit (or grapefruit juice) while you're on them. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 There are quite a few common medications that have negative interactions with this delish citrus fruit. "A large number of medications interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice," Dr. Jared L. Ross, DO, a board-certified emergency physician and assistant professor at the University of Missouri, tells Parade. "Furanocoumarins are a substance that occurs in certain plants and fruits, including Seville oranges, pomelos, limes and even fresh parsley." However, he says, the highest concentrations are in grapefruit, specifically grapefruit juice. "Furanocoumarins inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), an important enzyme found in the liver and small intestine. Many medications are either metabolically activated (from an inactive form) or inactivated by CYP3A4. This can make the medication ineffective or, more seriously, can prevent the body from breaking it down, leading to toxic effects." Related: Put simply, according to , family physician and host of The Codependent Doctor podcast, "When that enzyme is blocked, the drug builds up in your system. Instead of getting a regular dose, your body is getting a higher dose than intended." Doctors we spoke with pointed to the following drugs as having negative interactions with grapefruit: Statins, which are prescribed to lower cholesterol levels (simvastatin, lovastatin and atorvastatin) Calcium channel blockers for blood pressure management (like felodipine and nifedipine) Cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant Amiodarone, a medication to treat heart arrhythmias Some benzodiazepine medications used to treat anxiety and insomnia Certain antihistamines Related: According to Dr. Downey and Dr. Ross, eating grapefruit while on statins may pose the most serious side effects, including muscle breakdown, very low blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. OK, but what if you really like grapefruit? Don't worry, you may have options! "The American Heart Association recommends against drinking grapefruit juice if you are taking a statin medication," Dr. Ross tells us. "However, it may still be okay to have half a grapefruit a few days a week in the morning if you're taking a statin medication in the evening. "If you frequently consume grapefruit, consider asking your doctor about alternative medications," Dr. Ross adds. "If you are on a statin medication for high cholesterol, atorvastatin may have less of an interaction with furanocoumarins than other similar medications. For most other conditions, there are other medications that you can consider with your doctor." Related: Dr. Downey notes that in terms of statins, "Pravastatin and rosuvastatin are safer options for cholesterol management if grapefruit is non-negotiable." If you accidentally consume grapefruit or drink a small amount of grapefruit juice while on statins or other medications it interacts with, don't panic, but also don't ignore what your body may be telling you. "If you accidentally eat grapefruit or drink a small amount of grapefruit juice, it is unlikely to have any significant effects on you. However, monitor to make sure you are not experiencing muscle pain, being overly sedated or having a low heart rate and low blood pressure," Dr. Ross advises. "If you experience symptoms, seek medical attention." Dr. Downey concurs, explaining, "If someone accidentally eats grapefruit while on one of these meds they should call their pharmacist or doctor, especially if they are feeling unwell. The effect of grapefruit can last for over 24 hours, so it's not just about 'waiting it out.' We may need to adjust timing or dosage depending on the situation." Up Next:Dr. Jared L. Ross, DO Dr. Angela Downey, MD Doctors Are Begging You To Avoid Grapefruit if You Take These Common Medications first appeared on Parade on Jul 13, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This homemade 45p bathroom cleaning hack blew my mind (the experts were right)
What's the weirdest thing you have cleaned your bathroom with? Maybe it was a bizarre TikTok shop product, or you decided to polish your taps with baby oil. But have you tried making your bathroom sink, bath and tiles sparkle like new, using a piece of fruit? I have, and it blew my mind. I'm the first to admit that I get sucked into these ridiculous trends on social media when it comes to household hacks – the cheaper (and weirder), the better, in my honest opinion. Because let's be honest, cleaning your house with the same old anti-bacterial spray, such as Flash or Zoflora, can get pretty boring, and that's coming from someone who cleans for a hobby. So, when I came across a cleaning expert who recommended giving your bathroom suite a rub-down with a grapefruit and some salt, I quite literally jumped (up from the sofa) at the chance. My first thoughts were, is my bathroom going to turn into a giant bucket of Pimms-like sticky syrup, and will it attract every flying insect (I'm looking at you, wasps nest across the road) surrounding my house? I just had to find out, because there was no way a humongous 45p grapefruit from Tesco could replace my trusty method army – I was adamant this was even too weird for me. But do you know what, Nigel Bearman at Daily Poppins was right, it does clean your bathroom surfaces and it does one hell of a job without any harsh chemicals in sight. I actually ate the other half of grapefruit which wasn't used to clean my bathroom - don't judge (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) What stood out to me the most was how much it made the likes of my bathroom taps shine like they were straight out of a Wickes showroom. It even managed to get rid of a small build-up of limescale. Plus, I can't tell you how refreshing it was to have a natural, zesty scent take over my bathroom, a difference from the usual pungent anti-bacterial sprays. Although it looked a bit of a mess at first (I found it quite satisfying squeezing the inner grapefruit flesh over my sink and bath), it all washed away within seconds of pouring warm water on top. Best of all, after letting the grapefruit juice and salt soak, there wasn't a speckle of sticky residue, which was my ultimate fear. All that was left was a gleaming sink, taps and bath without any dust, grime or stains, and it only took 10 minutes to achieve. What do you usually clean your bathroom with? (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) When cleaning my bathroom with grapefruit and salt, this is the method I followed, thanks to Nigel's instructions: Cut the grapefruit in half and sprinkle it with coarse salt (like Epsom or sea salt) - I used normal cooking salt and it worked just fine Take one half of the grapefruit and lightly scrub it over the surface of your bath and shower Let it sit for a few minutes to help the citric acid work even harder on the stains (optional) Rinse the area with warm water and wipe clean if necessary So, what's the science behind grapefruit and salt being an excellent bathroom cleaner? Nigel explained: 'Grapefruit contains citric acid which helps to quickly break down soap scum and grime found in baths and showers. It acts as a natural cleaning agent and dissolves through tough stains while eliminating germs and bacteria. An unbelievable transformation if I do say so myself (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) 'The salt works as an abrasive to help scrub the grime away while you use it, while the grapefruit uses its natural acids and antibacterial properties to break down the buildup and leave your bathroom sparkling clean. It's a simple, eco-friendly solution that gives you a fresh, citrus-scented finish.' Recommended reading: Method's new cleaning spray transformed my home into a Jo Malone-scented paradise I banished the world's worst washing machine smell with 30p hack (and toothpaste) How to remove tough yellow toilet seat stains - 65p hack leaves them 'spotless' Additionally, you can also make an all-purpose grapefruit spray – just squeeze the juice from the grapefruit into a spray bottle, add 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar, top it up with warm water, and give it a good shake. You can also use the leftover grapefruit peel to deodorise your bathroom bin or pop it in a pot of boiling water to naturally scent the whole room. If you fancy giving your bathroom a clean using this cheap grapefruit hack, let us know how you get on in the comments below. What a zest-tastic idea from Nigel, I owe you one.
