Pink Grapefruit Nutritional Facts

The Latin name for grapefruit, citrus paradisi, succinctly describes both the taste of the fruit and the many health benefits that may be obtained by eating it. Pink grapefruit has some properties that blond, or white, grapefruit does not. A member of the citrus family, pink grapefruit is available throughout the year, but is at its best during the winter and early spring of the year.

Description

Pink grapefruits are yellow to yellow-pink on the outside with a smooth peel. The meat of the fruit on the inside is a delicate pink color. Grapefruits range in size from four to six inches in diameter. Some varieties of pink grapefruits have seeds, others are seedless.

Features

The basic nutritional information for one-half of a medium pink grapefruit is 40 to 60 calories; 0.2 g of fat; 13 g of carbohydrates; and 0.9 g of protein. This serving also provides 2 g of fiber. Half a medium pink grapefruit contains 11 g of sugars, 35 percent of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin A, 100 percent of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin C and 160 mg of potassium.

Benefits

Pink grapefruit contains lycopene, an antioxidant. This is one of the properties that pink grapefruit has that white grapefruit does not. The lycopene is what gives pink grapefruit's flesh its distinctive color.

The World's Healthiest Foods website advises that pink grapefruit contains limonoids, substances that inhibit tumor growth. Grapefruit also contains pectin, a type of fiber that is known to help in lowering LDL cholesterol.

A study by Ruth Honow, et al, published in 2003 in the "British Journal of Nutrition," concluded that grapefruit juice seems to prevent the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones when one-half to one liter per day is consumed.

Recommendations

When buying pink grapefruit, look for fruit that is heavy for its size. Avoid fruit with soft spots or mushy patches. Grapefruit that is rough in texture or wrinkly will likely have thick skin, thus less actual fruit to eat, advises the World's Healthiest Foods.

You can store grapefruit on the kitchen counter if it will be eaten within a week; store in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Warning

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are known to interact with a variety of different medications, such as calcium channel blockers, statins and cyclosporine. Consult your health care provider or pharmacist to ensure the safety of your consumption of grapefruit/grapefruit juice.