Ruby Red Grapefruit Nutrition

Ruby red grapefruit was first developed in the 1920s in Texas, according to Drugs.com. This variety of grapefruit has a yellow exterior rind and a bright red edible interior. The membrane and rind of grapefruit are bitter, but the fruit itself is a combination of sweet and tart flavors. Other varieties of grapefruit include white and pink grapefruit. Because grapefruit can interact with some drugs, anyone on prescribed medication should talk to his doctor before adding grapefruit to his diet.

Basic Nutrition

One serving of ruby red grapefruit, about half of a medium fruit or 123 g, has approximately 37 calories. It has 9 g of carbohydrates, of which 1 g is fiber, and 1 g of protein. The fiber in grapefruit is in the form of pectin, a type of soluble fiber. Grapefruit contains no fat, cholesterol or sodium. A single serving has 113 g of water.

Micronutrients

Ruby red grapefruit contains 76 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C, or 45.5 mg. It also has 319 IU of vitamin A, 18.4 mg of calcium and 11.1 mcg of folate. Other vitamins and minerals present in ruby red grapefruit include niacin, vitamin B6, iron, pantothenic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and selenium.

Phytochemicals

Lycopene is the major phytochemical component of ruby red grapefruit and it gives this fruit its characteristic red color. Lycopene is a type of carotenioid and has antioxidant properties. When consumed in a diet that also contains green tea, foods with lycopene work in synergy with phytochemicals in the tea to help prevent prostate cancer. The flavonoid naringenin may also have a protective effect against prostate cancer. Limonoids, another phytochemical component of grapefruit and other citrus, help prevent tumor formation.

Health Benefits

According to World's Healthiest Foods, the vitamin C content of ruby red grapefruit may help fight colds. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant and may help prevent cancer and heart disease. Red grapefruit can lower triglycerides and LDL, or bad cholesterol, levels in individuals with arteriosclerosis, according to a March 2006 study in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry."

Warning

All types of grapefruit, including ruby red grapefruit, can interact with some drugs. This interaction takes the form of slowing absorption in the intestines and hindering the detoxification process in the liver that breaks down drugs for removal from the body. Immunosuppressants and calcium channel blockers are particularly affected. Grapefruit can also increase the metabolism of statins in people taking these drugs, causing a potentially dangerous buildup of medication in the body. Other drugs that can interact with grapefruit include blood pressure medication, cholesterol medication and drugs for depression.