Calories in Grapefruit
Categorized as white (blond), pink or ruby red, grapefruit is a large citrus fruit similar to orange, lemon and pomelo. It is categorized as white (blond), pink or ruby, which doesn't reflect its skin color but describes the color of its flesh. Grapefruit was discovered in Barbados in the 18th century as a result of natural cross breed between the orange and the pomelo. Tart and tangy with an underlying sweetness, grapefruit has a succulency of an orange and similar health promoting benefits. Though available all over the year, grapefruit is in season and at its best from winter through early spring. Also termed as citrus paradisi in Latin, it varies in diameter from four to six inches, with some varieties having seeds while others without seeds.
Calories in a Grapefruit
Grapefruit comes in different colors like vibrant pink, deep red and even white, and depending upon where they are grown, grapefruit calories do vary.
| Grapefruit | Calories |
| California Pink or Red Grapefruit | 46 calories |
| Arizona Pink or Red Grapefruit | 46 calories |
| Florida Pink or Red Grapefruit | 37 calories |
| California White Grapefruit | 44 calories |
| Florida White Grapefruit | 38 calories |
Calories and Nutritional Value of Grapefruit
Large Grapefruit (166 g): 53 calories
| Nutrient Values of Grapefruit | |
| Total Fat | 0.2 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 13.4 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.8 g |
| Sugars | 11.6 g |
| Protein | 1.0 g |
| Vitamin A | 31 % |
| Vitamin C | 95 % |
Medium Grapefruit (128 g): 41 calories
| Nutrient Values of Grapefruit | |
| Total Fat | 0.1 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 10.3 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.4 g |
| Sugars | 8.9 g |
| Protein | 0.8 g |
| Vitamin A | 24 % |
| Vitamin C | 73 % |
Small Grapefruit (100 g): 32 calories
| Nutrient Values of Grapefruit | |
| Total Fat | 0.1 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 8.1 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.1 g |
| Sugars | 7.0 g |
| Protein | 0.6 g |
| Vitamin A | 19 % |
| Vitamin C | 57 % |
Health Benefits of Grapefruit
- Being an excellent source of vitamin C, it supports the immune system by reducing cold symptoms or severity of cold symptoms. It prevents the free radical damage and also minimizes the severity of inflammatory conditions, like asthma, heart attack, stroke, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Red or pink color grapefruit contains lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient which has anti-tumor properties that help fighting oxygen free radicals, compounds that damage the body cells.
- Phytonutrients in grapefruit called limonoids inhibit tumor formation by elevating the formation of glutathione S-transferase, a detoxifying enzyme. This enzyme ignites a reaction in the liver that helps to make toxic compounds more water soluble for excretion from the body. Pulp of the fruit contains glucarates, compounds that help fighting cancers of the mouth, lung, breast, stomach, skin and colon.
- Grapefruit comprises pectin, a form of soluble fiber that reduces the blood levels of LDL ('bad') cholesterol and triglycerides without affecting the HDL ('good') cholesterol.
- Drinking to 1 liter of grapefruit daily, increases urinary pH value and citric acid excretion which reduce the risks of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
- It significantly increases the production and activity of liver detoxification enzymes which are responsible for removing toxic compounds and cancer causing toxins from the body.
- Naringenin, a flavonoid concentrated in grapefruit helps in repairing the damaged DNA in human prostate cancer cells and also eradicates potentially cancer-causing mutations in cells.
