Health Benefits, Nutrition & Precautions

Sweet, tangy grapefruit is the youngest sibling in the citrus family. Did you know it’s a cross between a pomelo and a sweet orange? While people have been cultivating lemons, limes and oranges for thousands of years, the grapefruit came to us from the beautiful tropical island of Barbados in the 1600s. And we’ve been enjoying it ever since.

Grapefruit isn’t just juicy and delicious. It’s also packed with nutrients. However, eating unlimited amounts may be problematic for some people. So, we turned to the experts to learn about the health benefits of grapefruit. Is it okay to eat it every day? What about its sugar content or the acidic effect on your teeth? This juicy fruit is full of surprises and health benefits. Let’s hear what the experts say.

Health Benefits of Grapefruit

Like pretty much all fruits and vegetables, grapefruit can help improve your health in many ways. It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other plant compounds that do a body good.

Let’s dive in and learn what eating grapefruit every day does to your body.

May Boost Immune Health

Vitamin C may be the most famous antioxidant out there, and grapefruit is packed with it, especially pink grapefruit. “One whole medium [pink] grapefruit provides [nearly] 100% of daily needs for vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant and boost for the immune system,” says Courtney Pelitera, M.S., RDN, a registered dietitian and owner of Devour Your Life Nutrition Coaching. One pink grapefruit also provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for immune-boosting Vitamin A. “Vitamin A can support the immune system because of its promotion of an anti-inflammatory state,” says Samantha MacLeod, M.S., RD, a registered dietitian with Fresh Communications.

May Aid in Weight Loss

Grapefruit is almost as famous as a weight loss aid as it is for immune health. “Grapefruit is rich in nutrients and low in calories, which is why many turn to this fruit when they are on a weight loss journey and are looking for lower calorie options that are still loaded with nutrients,” says MacLeod. Plus, it’s high in fiber and water, which both fill you up. One whole fruit contains roughly 100 calories each and is nearly 90% water by weight.

While those attributes make it a weight loss-friendly food, it’s important to note that studies specifically looking at weight loss and grapefruit consumption haven’t been conducted in years. However, a recent review concluded there isn’t enough evidence that citrus fruits, including grapefruit, can actually help with weight loss, so more research is needed.

May Improve Heart Health

Grapefruit’s fiber is good news for your heart! “Fiber is our superstar here when preventing heart disease,” says Pelitera. “We know from many studies that increasing fiber lowers LDL cholesterol, regulates bowel movements, improves blood pressure, helps control blood sugars and can help regulate weight.”

And it’s not just grapefruit’s fiber that reduces risk factors for heart disease. Grapefruit also contains potassium, a blood pressure-lowering mineral that few of us get enough of. Conveniently, one pink grapefruit provides 7% of the DV.

May Prevent Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

Can a diet that includes grapefruit help lower your insulin and blood sugar? “Again, the fiber here is the superstar,” says Pelitera. “Due to the high fiber content in grapefruit, the carbohydrates from the grapefruit and other foods eaten at the same meal are digested slower, causing less of the glucose to rise in the bloodstream.” But there’s more. Grapefruits and other citrus fruits also contain quercetin, a phytochemical that promotes insulin secretion by the pancreas.

Nutritional Profile of Grapefruit

Grapefruit is filled with a plethora of vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds, all ready to improve your health. Its nutritional profile may vary depending on the type and color you choose. However, pink varieties contain the most vitamins A and C and carotenoids, such as beta-carotene and lycopene.

Potential Risks and Considerations

While grapefruit is full of healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, there are a few things to think about before sitting down to enjoy this citrus treat.

Interaction with Certain Medications

Grapefruit is unique because it can alter how much of your medication makes it into your bloodstream. Many medications can only be broken down and metabolized with the help of an enzyme in your digestive tract called CYP3A4. Grapefruit can block the action of this enzyme, which means more of some drugs may enter your bloodstream. In addition to increasing the amount of medication in your body, this may possibly lead to more severe side effects. For other drugs, grapefruit may conversely interfere with a protein needed to transport certain medications into your body’s cells. This has the opposite effect, decreasing the drug’s availability and potential effectiveness.

What happens in your body depends on the drug, your biology and how much grapefruit you eat. So, if you’re taking medication, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider to find out if it’s okay for you to eat grapefruit.

While there are many drugs that interact with grapefruit, here are some of the most common ones, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

• Statins to lower cholesterol, such as Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin)
• Certain antihistamines, like Allegra (fexofenadine)
• Medications to treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (nifedipine)
• Organ-transplant rejection drugs, including Sandimmune and Neoral (cyclosporine)
• Some anti-anxiety medications, such as BuSpar (buspirone)
• Drugs to treat heart rhythm issues, like Cordarone and Pacerone (amiodarone)
• Corticosteroids used to treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, such as Entocort EC and Uceris (budesonide)

Dental Health 

Like other citrus fruits, grapefruit is acidic and contains some sugar, which could theoretically erode tooth enamel. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat it. “It takes a lot of acidity over time to erode the tooth enamel,” says Pelitera. “Please also keep in mind that other foods such as coffee may already be a part of your diet that are also very acidic. If this is a major concern or you have very sensitive teeth, I would recommend addressing this with your dentist to get specific recommendations.”

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

“For people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), grapefruit and other citrus fruits may not be the best choice for a meal, due to their very high acidity,” says Pelitera. “This may increase GERD symptoms.”

The Bottom Line

Grapefruit is a nutrition powerhouse filled with vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber and antioxidants. That makes it a fantastic food for immune and cardiovascular health and balanced blood sugar. Because grapefruit is naturally high in fiber and water yet low in calories, it’s also weight loss-friendly. And remember, grapefruit is not just for breakfast. It’s also a tasty addition to dishes like Fish Tacos with Preserved Grapefruit Salsa or this stunning Beet Grapefruit Salad.

As healthy and delicious as grapefruit is, it may interact with certain medications. This can increase or decrease their potency and side effects. So, if you’re taking medication, speak with your doctor to make sure grapefruit is right for you.