The one negative of pink grapefruit is its sugar level, at 32 percent daily value in a 1-cup serving. However, fruit contains complex sugar instead of the refined sugar in table sugar. Just like other complex carbohydrates, complex sugar takes longer for your body to break down, so it does not lead to the same ups and downs as refined sugar. Aside from the sugar content, pink grapefruit provides many health benefits, making it a healthy addition to your diet.
Low in Fat and Calories
Pink grapefruit is low in calories and fat. The 1 cup serving size of pink grapefruit contains 73.6 calories and only 0.2 g fat. With 0 g saturated fat, pink grapefruit is overall low in fat. According to the FDA guidelines, 40 is low and 100 is moderate in terms of calories in a serving. At 73.6 calories, a serving of pink grapefruit falls in the middle.
Lycopene
While you might not think there is much of a difference between pink grapefruit and other varieties, the substance that turns this type of grapefruit pink creates positive health benefits. Pink grapefruit contains lycopene, the same health-promoting compound found in tomatoes and watermelon. Lycopene is an antioxidant that fights free radicals in your body that can cause cancer, cardiovascular disease and other diseases by damaging cells.
Nutrients
Pink grapefruit provides an abundance of nutrients. It gives a small amount of protein, at 2.9 percent daily value per cup. It contains a large amount of fiber, with 10.1 percent DV in a cup. Pink grapefruit provides more than a day's amount of vitamin C, with 131.9 percent daily value. It also provides 42.6 percent of vitamin A, 5.8 percent folate, 5.5 percent thiamine and a small number of many other vitamins. The minerals in pink grapefruit include 9.1 percent potassium, 5.4 percent copper and small amounts of a few other minerals.
Warning
Grapefruit juice counteracts many medications, so make sure it is safe for you to eat grapefruit if you are on any medication. Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky explains that grapefruit juice causes medicine not to break down, leaving too much of it in your body. The juice interacts with some anti-anxiety, antidepressant and anti-seizure medicine, as well as many others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist to determine if grapefruit juice interacts with your medication.
Member Comments