Grapefruit | Health Notes at WWSM | Health Information at WWSM

Grapefruit

Find great tips on how grapefruit can add a special twist to your next meal

Slice it for salads
Grapefruit sections add delicious flavour to delicate greens—pair with almonds or walnuts for a well-rounded meal.

Power food
Grapefruit is a good source of vitamin C.

Quick & easy recipe
Most of us think of eating a grapefruit raw, but a light brush with olive oil and a quick sear on the barbecue makes a tangy side dish.

Also indexed as: Pink Grapefruit, Pummelo, Texas Red Grapefruit, White Grapefruit

Preparation, uses, and tips

While grapefruits are often served halve to be eaten raw or juiced, they can also be sliced and grilled as a side dish to serve with an main course. Grapefruit sections or pieces can be added to fruit salads and used in desserts.

Buying and storing tips

Fresh grapefruits are available all the year round, though they are traditionally a winter fruit. Those grown in Arizona and California are available January through August, and grapefruit grown in Florida and Texas arrive in October and last through June.

Choose grapefruits that feel heavy in the hand. Although the skin may appear irregularly coloured, this is not generally an important factor. Avoid fruits that have soft or wet spots. Thinner-skinned fruits are usually juicier but not necessarily tastier. Grapefruits ripen when picked, and are best when stored loose at a cool room temperature, or in the refrigerator.

Varieties

Grapefruit can be white (really a pale yellow), pink, or red. The white variety is usually smaller and more tart than the pink. Large, ruby-red grapefruits were discovered growing in Texas in 1929. Some grapefruits are seedless.

Nutrition Highlights

Grapefruit (pink and red, raw), 1 cup (sections) (230g)
Calories: 97
Protein: 2g
Carbohydrate: 25g
Total Fat: 0g
Fiber: 4g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin A (2,645IU), and Vitamin C (71.76mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires September 2008.