6 Nutrients That Make Rio Red Grapefruits So Good for You!
If you’re looking for the perfect, sweet red grapefruits in Texas, look no further than Winter Sweetz. Our winter ripening process gives our grapefruit their characteristic juicy sweetness packed full of all the nutrients found below!
1. Vitamin C
One of the key health benefits of Rio Red grapefruits come from vitamin C. One half of a grapefruit contains nearly 40 milligrams of vitamin C. This accounts for almost two-thirds of the vitamin’s daily value as calculated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Vitamin C has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an important vitamin that supports your immune system and may even be able to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
2. Lycopene and Beta-Carotene
Lycopenes are well known for their antioxidant properties, and grapefruits are packed with them! In fact, lycopenes are what give Texas red grapefruit their red color. This is why red grapefruit are especially rich in antioxidants.
Another grapefruit carotenoid with great antioxidant properties is beta-carotene. Antioxidants like these inhibit oxidation, meaning they can reduce inflammation. They also may contribute to lowering your risk of cancer.
3. Fiber and Calories
Half of one medium-sized red grapefruit reportedly contains 2 grams of dietary fiber, or roughly 8 percent of your daily value for fiber according to the FDA. Plus, that same half of a grapefruit will net calorie counters just 41 calories. Most people in the U.S. don’t eat as much fiber as they should to stay healthy, and grapefruits are a great, low-calorie way to get your fiber.
4. Vitamin A
Nearly 30 percent of your daily value for vitamin A, also known for its antioxidant properties, can be found in each half of a Rio Red grapefruit. Vitamin A is key to maintaining a person’s normal vision and also plays a role in reproduction and the immune system. It also helps support the health of the heart, kidneys, lungs, and other organs.
5. Potassium
When we think of sources of potassium, most of us think of bananas, but there are actually many foods rich in this important nutrient. In truth, a small grapefruit has almost 75 percent of the potassium inside of a medium-sized banana! Potassium does everything from ensuring proper heart and kidney function to nerve transmission and muscle contraction.
6. Naringenin
Naringenin is a flavonoid, or flavor causing compound, found in most citrus fruits including Rio Reds. Studies have shown naringenin to have “antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiadipogenic and cardioprotective effects”. Other studies have connected naringenin to healthy metabolism and have shown its positive effects on other issues like heavy metal-induced hepatotoxicity, hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, and obesity.