Grapefruit is a nutritional bargain. It's easy to prepare and delivers a generous dose of vitamin C. The pink and red varieties also provide two antioxidants, vitamin A and lycopene.

Despite grapefruit's virtues, there is one serious drawback: The fruit (or juice) can affect how your body absorbs a number of drugs, including the statin family of cholesterol-lowering agents, some blood pressure medicines and certain oral medications used to treat diabetes.

Some of these medications are absorbed rapidly and others slowly, but all of their absorption rates are influenced by grapefruit. These changes impact their effectiveness.

This doesn't mean you can never again enjoy grapefruit. But if you are taking prescription medicine, ask your doctor about possible interactions with grapefruit. In fact, it's wise to check the interaction of any drug - prescription or non-prescription - with foods or other medications. It can help you avoid unexpected and unnecessary problems.