GrapefruitFruit
32
kcal / 100g
74
kcal / 1 cup sections, with juice
2 things to watch for
Informational only, not medical advice. Always verify against the physical product label — data may be incomplete or out of date.
Nutrition Facts (per 100g)
| Nutrient | Amount | %DV |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 32kcal | — |
| Protein | 0.63g | 1% |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.1g | 0% |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.014g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 8.08g | 3% |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.1g | 4% |
| Total Sugars | 6.98g | — |
| Sodium, Na | 0mg | 0% |
Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of gums EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of teeth EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to normal psychological function EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue EU register →
Vitamin C contributes to the regeneration of the reduced form of vitamin E EU register →
Vitamin C increases iron absorption EU register →
Diet Compatibility
- VeganYes
Yes — Grapefruit is vegan.
Based on Open Food Facts ingredient analysis. How we set this
- VegetarianYes
Yes — Grapefruit is vegetarian.
Based on Open Food Facts ingredient analysis. How we set this
- Palm Oil FreeYes
Yes — Grapefruit is palm oil free.
Based on Open Food Facts ingredient analysis. How we set this
- Gluten-FreeYes
Yes — Grapefruit is gluten-free.
Based on the ingredient list and allergen data recorded in Open Food Facts. How we set this
- Dairy-FreeYes
Yes — Grapefruit is dairy-free.
Based on the ingredient list and allergen data recorded in Open Food Facts. How we set this
- Nut-FreeYes
Yes — Grapefruit is nut-free.
Based on the ingredient list and allergen data recorded in Open Food Facts (covers tree nuts and peanuts). How we set this
- Soy-FreeYes
Yes — Grapefruit is soy-free.
Based on the ingredient list and allergen data recorded in Open Food Facts. How we set this
- Egg-FreeYes
Yes — Grapefruit is egg-free.
Based on the ingredient list and allergen data recorded in Open Food Facts. How we set this
- KetoYes
Yes — Grapefruit is keto-friendly (6.98 g net carbs per 100g, within the ≤10 g net carbs bar). (may not account for sugar alcohols; per-100g basis is a rougher heuristic than per-serving.)
≤5g net carbs per serving — our bar, not a regulatory standard. How we set this
- Low-CarbYes
Yes — Grapefruit is low-carb (6.98 g net carbs per 100g, within the ≤15 g net carbs bar). (may not account for sugar alcohols.)
≤15g net carbs per serving — our bar, not a regulatory standard. How we set this
- Low-SugarNo
No — Grapefruit is not low in sugar (6.98 g sugar per 100g, over the ≤5 g sugar bar).
≤5g sugar per serving — our own criterion; the FDA defines none. How we set this
- High-ProteinNo
No — Grapefruit is not high in protein (0.63 g protein per 100g, below the ≥10 g protein bar).
≥10g protein per serving — FDA 21 CFR 101.54 (≥20% DV). How we set this
- Low-FatYes
Yes — Grapefruit is low-fat (0.1 g fat per 100g, within the ≤3 g fat bar).
≤3g fat per serving — FDA 21 CFR 101.62. How we set this
- Low-CalorieYes
Yes — Grapefruit is low-calorie (32 kcal per 100g, within the ≤40 kcal bar).
≤40 kcal per serving — FDA 21 CFR 101.60. How we set this
Read the sourced research
Raw grapefruit has about 9.1g net carbs per 100g (total carbs minus fiber), per USDA. That's carb-dense enough that commercial keto guides disagree on whether it fits a strict ketogenic diet — some allow a small portion, others rule it out. [5]
Grapefruit is low-FODMAP up to an 80g serving, based on Monash University testing. Larger portions push fructan content into high-FODMAP territory. [6]
Health Benefits
Grapefruit's most well-documented effect on health isn't a nutrient benefit — it's a drug interaction. Furanocoumarins in the fruit inhibit CYP3A4, the enzyme responsible for breaking down roughly half of all oral prescription drugs.
As of 2012, researchers had identified 85 drugs known or predicted to interact with grapefruit this way. Just 200 mL of juice, or one whole fruit, is enough to trigger a clinically relevant interaction. [1]A 2017 systematic review of 3 randomized trials found grapefruit consumption modestly lowered systolic blood pressure, by about 2.43 mmHg on average versus control. The change in body weight was smaller and not statistically significant.
The review's own conclusion was that grapefruit isn't backed by solid evidence as a weight-loss aid, despite its popular reputation as a diet food. [2]A separate 6-week trial giving people half a fresh grapefruit three times a day found a significant drop in waist circumference, about 2.45 cm on average. That same trial found no significant change in overall body weight, blood pressure, or lipids. [3]
Storage & Buying Tips
Commercial cold storage keeps grapefruit at 14°C or below, giving up to 6-8 weeks of shelf life. That figure reflects controlled commercial refrigeration, so a home fridge likely won't match it exactly. [4]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does grapefruit interact with so many medications?
The culprit is a group of compounds called furanocoumarins, which permanently disable CYP3A4 — an intestinal enzyme that normally breaks down about half of all oral medications before they fully absorb.
With that enzyme blocked, more of a drug reaches the bloodstream than intended. This only affects drugs that rely heavily on CYP3A4 and already have limited bioavailability, so it isn't every medication. [1]
Is it safe to eat grapefruit while pregnant?
There's no solid research confirming grapefruit is safe, or unsafe, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, according to WebMD. The usual caution applies: keep it to normal food-sized amounts rather than large quantities.
Pregnancy doesn't change grapefruit's separate medication-interaction risk. Anyone taking a CYP3A4-metabolized drug should still check with their doctor before eating it. [1]
How much grapefruit can I eat a day safely?
For most people, there's no official daily limit on eating grapefruit — it isn't a toxicity concern. The real issue is medication interaction, not overeating the fruit itself.
Since as little as one whole grapefruit can meaningfully raise blood levels of certain drugs, eating it daily compounds that effect further. That's why people on interacting medications are usually told to skip grapefruit entirely rather than try to ration it. [1]
Why does grapefruit taste bitter?
The bitter flavor mostly comes from naringin, a compound found in high amounts throughout the fruit. Gut bacteria eventually convert it into naringenin, which doesn't taste bitter at all.
Pink and red grapefruit varieties were bred specifically to tone down that bitterness and remove seeds. That's part of why they've become the more popular choice over the original white-fleshed fruit. [7]
Does grapefruit interact with birth control pills or other hormone medications?
Grapefruit increases the body's absorption of estrogen-based drugs, including the ethinylestradiol used in some birth control pills. That interaction is well established.
Two large studies then asked whether this raises breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women on estrogen therapy plus grapefruit. The first found a 30% higher risk in women eating a quarter grapefruit or more daily; a follow-up study found no such link.
So that specific cancer-risk question remains unsettled. More broadly, CYP3A4 also metabolizes many other hormone-based medications, so grapefruit has the same potential to shift their blood levels — checking with a prescriber first is the standard precaution. [1]
Is red or white grapefruit healthier?
Pink and red grapefruit contain lycopene and beta-carotene, the pigments that give them their color — white grapefruit largely lacks both. Testing has also found the pigmented varieties measure higher in antioxidant activity than white juice.
Beyond that difference, the two are nutritionally similar. Vitamin C, fiber, and potassium levels don't vary much between them. [7]
Found in these products
None of the products in our database currently contain Grapefruit.
Sources & Last Updated
Nutrition data: USDA FoodData Central, “Grapefruit, raw, pink and red and white, all areas” (SR Legacy, fdcId 173033), updated 2026-08-27.
Research reviewed 2026-08-27.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3589309/
- The effect of grapefruits (Citrus paradisi) on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials - PubMed (2017-02-10)
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/b79225ec-0136-4eb3-b4a3-8e0bc221e725/resource/df0df8ce-f668-4ecf-a4f0-d1b3f4a4ea20/download/storage-temperatures.pdf
- Grapefruit, raw, pink and red, all areas - Nutrients - SR Legacy | USDA FoodData Central
- Is grapefruit low FODMAP? (2024-05-15)
- Owira et al., Cardiovascular Journal of Africa (2010-09-30)