The Center for Science in the Public Interest rates pink grapefruit in its top three "Fantastic Fruits" for a reason. This low-calorie fruit is loaded with vitamin C and carotenoids. People who eat diets rich in these nutrients may reduce their risk for cancer and other diseases. Pink grapefruit is good for you when you include it as part of a diverse, nutritious diet.
About Grapefruit
Grapefruit originated in the West Indies and was introduced to Florida in the early 1800s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are three varieties of grapefruit: white, pink/red and star ruby/rio red, all of which have the same distinctive tart taste. Pink grapefruit, as well as any red grapefruit, is more nutrient-rich than white grapefruit. Florida continues to be the state where most grapefruit is grown today. Grapefruit and other citrus fruits are high in vitamin C.
Grapefruit Nutrition
A 1/2-cup serving of grapefruit has only 60 calories and no fat, cholesterol or sodium. Based on a 2,000-calorie diet, this serving of grapefruit gives you 70 percent of your daily value, or DV, for vitamin C and 20 percent of your DV for vitamin A. It also gives you 4 percent of your DV for dietary fiber -- one of the benefits of choosing whole pink grapefruit over pink grapefruit juice. Fruit juices, while a good source of essential vitamins and minerals, are stripped of fiber needed for good digestive health; fruit juice is also higher in calories. A cup of pink grapefruit juice has 100 calories and no dietary fiber.
Grapefruit Cautions
Grapefruit has gained star status in fad diets that promote it as a special weapon against excess weight. The Weight-control Information Network states that grapefruit and other so-called "fat burning" foods won't increase your metabolism and make calories burn faster. The CDC does warn people who eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice every day to be cautious about mixing it with medications, such as prescription antihistamines and statins; it may enhance the levels of the drug in your bloodstream. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if grapefruit and the medications you take are a bad mix.
Fruit and Diet
Pink grapefruit is good for you, as are watermelon, guava, papaya, kiwifruit, cantaloupe, orange, strawberries, apricots, blackberries, raspberries and tangerines -- other fruits that get special mention by the CSPI for their nutritional benefits. Incorporate pink grapefruit into your diet with a wide variety of other fruits. Harvard School of Public Health indicates that when it comes to fruits and vegetables, more is always better. If you eat a 2,000-calorie diet, aim to get two cups of fruit each day.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Grapefruit
- NutrientFacts.com: Pink Grapefruit Juice
- MayoClinic.org: Juicing Fruits and Vegetables: Some Touted Benefits are Far-fetched; February 2011
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: Nutrition Action Healthletter; Fantastic Fruits; May 1998
- MayoClinic.com; 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- Weight-control Information Network: Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths
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