Grapefruit Juice: Sweet, Sour, and Healthy 

The grapefruit has been a popular fruit in America for countless years. In some households, in fact, half a grapefruit or even a glass of grapefruit juice is a very normal part of a standard breakfast. Larger than an orange and with inner flesh that can range from pale yellow to deep pink, the grapefruit has a tangy, sweet flavor that sets it apart from the other citrus fruits. But like the other members of the citrus family, the grapefruit and its abundant juices are also loaded with nutrients that make it a healthy part of any diet.   

Origins of the Grapefruit    

The grapefruit is the fruit of a citrus tree (Citrus × paradisi) that originated on the island of Barbados in the 1600-1700s. The fruit is a hybrid of the Jamaican sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and the Indonesian pomelo (Citrus maxima). One theory about the origin is that European sailors brought pomelo seeds to the West Indies and the hybrid grapefruit arose naturally due to the commingling of the two species. The name grapefruit seems to have been given because of the way the fruit grows in clusters on the tree like grapes.

Grapefruit trees grow in similar warm climates as orange trees and other citrus fruits. They can grow up to 20 feet high and have dark green leaves and large white flowers. Most grapefruit is yellow when ripe and can be 4-6 inches in diameter. The inner flesh tends to be very juicy and pale yellow in color, but there are more recently developed varieties that have dark pink or red pulp. At 9.3 million tonnes produced annually, the grapefruit is behind only the orange and lemon in terms of quantity of citrus fruit. Though it is grown in the United States, Mexico, and Vietnam, the majority of grapefruit is now grown in China.

What Are the Health Benefits of Grapefruit Juice?  

Fresh grapefruit is a welcome sight at many breakfast tables, and it can even be used in more unconventional ways—like adding zing to a salad. Yet it’s the contrasting sweet and sour flavor of grapefruit juice that sets it apart from its citrus cousins. In food production settings, grapefruit juice concentrates and essences are useful in many applications, from hard seltzers to nutraceuticals. Regardless of the application, though, grapefruit juice is loaded with nutrients that are associated with numerous health benefits:

• Nutritional value: For a fruit with a relatively low calorie count, grapefruit is very nutrient-dense. As a member of the citrus family, it’s probably unsurprising that it is high in vitamin C; in fact, a serving of grapefruit juice has about 64% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. Grapefruit juice is also rich in other vitamins like vitamin A, thiamine, folate, and beta-carotene. Additionally, it contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron. 
• Immune system assist: One of the most valuable aspects of vitamin C is related to its effect on the human immune system. In addition to promoting the creation and growth of white blood cells, vitamin C is thought to support the barrier function of epithelial tissue; both are important for countering pathogens that enter the body and threaten to cause disease. It remains unclear if high doses of vitamin C can prevent a respiratory disease like the common cold (as is sometimes claimed), but research does seem to show that it can shorten the length of such a condition. 
• Powerful antioxidants: Grapefruit juice contains several antioxidants, such as vitamin C, lycopene, and beta-carotene. Antioxidants are compounds that protect against oxidative stress, a state in which particles called free radicals cause damage to cells and tissues around the body. The damage done by free radicals is thought to be responsible for many diseases, including possibly cancer. Antioxidants essentially absorb free radicals and prevent them from roaming freely and causing damage.   
• Heart healthy: The potassium content in grapefruit juice is beneficial for heart health because of its impact on the circulatory system. Potassium helps remove sodium from the bloodstream and thereby causes veins and arteries to relax. This reduces high blood pressure and in turn can lower the risk of heart disease and other related heart conditions. There is also some evidence that grapefruit juice can lower LDL cholesterol levels.
• Beneficial for weight loss: Grapefruit has long been associated with weight loss, ever since the so-called “grapefruit diet” became briefly popular in the 1930s. While that fad diet didn’t really have any merit, the fact remains that grapefruit juice can be an excellent low calorie, high nutrient part of a healthy weight loss plan. And even though eating the fruit itself is more effective in this regard, the juice does have many valuable nutrients. Also, the high water content leads to better hydration, and that is good for weight loss and overall health and wellness.
• Helps with insulin resistance: Because grapefruit juice has such a low glycemic index, it tends to have very little impact on blood sugar levels. This makes it a great option for people who have insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. 
• Lower risk of kidney stones: Grapefruit juice and other citrus fruits like tangerines contain citric acid, a compound that can bind to calcium. Since calcium is one of the main components of kidney stones, drinking grapefruit juice can help prevent the formation of stones. 

Additional Considerations

Drinking grapefruit juice is a healthy choice for almost anyone, but there are some benefits that are really only conferred by eating grapefruit. There is some dietary fiber content in the juice (particularly if it has pulp), but you would need to eat the fruit itself to have a meaningful impact on digestive concerns like constipation. There are also some minor risks associated with grapefruit juice. For instance, drinking grapefruit juice might have side effects for people taking statins; it can also inhibit cytochrome P450, an enzyme that helps metabolize certain medications. Also, the citric acid can erode tooth enamel if consumed in large quantities. 

Grapefruit Juice: a Versatile Ingredient

FruitSmart uses only the best fruits from select growers in the United States and around the world to make our high-quality juices, concentrates, essences, purees, and dry ingredients. Grapefruit juice is a popular flavor that can enhance a wide variety of beverages and food products. We are passionate about working with you to create the perfect recipe that will deliver quality, health, and flavor to your customers. If you’d like to learn more about working with FruitSmart, please contact us today.