Grapefruit

Loaded with sour to semi-sweet flavor, grapefruit is nicknamed “fruit from the paradise” and is native to the Caribbean. It is a hybrid fruit between oranges and pomelo. Grapefruit scores an 89 out of 100 in Dr. T.C. Fry’s “A General Guide to Food Selection.”

Grapefruit is in season from September through December. An average-size grapefruit measures 7½ inches in diameter, weighs 246 grams and contains 103 calories.

Grapefruit belongs to the Rutaceae family, which includes oranges and tangerines, in the genus Citrus. Cultivars include pink, red and white pulps, with the redder varieties sweeter.

Grapefruit contains a rich supply of Vitamin C. The fruit contains 88 percent water by weight.

China is the leading producer of grapefruit, growing 3.8 million metric tons in 2012, followed by the United States (1 million metric tons) and Mexico (415,000 metric tons). Thailand (328,000 metric tons) and South Africa (305,000 metric tons) round out the list of leading five producers.

Stats for 100 Grams of Grapefruit (Raw, Pink and Red, All Areas)

• 42 calories

Notable Nutrients

Percentages based on the Reference Daily Intake for a 2,000-calorie diet

• Fiber: 6.4%
• Vitamin A: 23%
• Vitamin C: 52%

Carbs/Protein/Fat

• Carbohydrates: 91.1%
• Protein: 6.1%
• Fat: 2.8%

Food Type

• Acid fruit

Sources

• Self Healing Colitis & Crohn’s by Dr. David Klein
• http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2271
• http://www.cronometer.com
• http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/grapefruit.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapefruit