Proper vitamin C intake is an important ingredient when it comes to your overall wellness. This antioxidant works to keep your body protected from free radicals and can make a major difference in your immune system. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to fit vitamin C-rich foods into your diet. And while the most well-known option is the ever-popular orange, there’s another fruit that should definitely be on your radar if you’re looking to pack a vitamin C punch: grapefruit.
To learn more about why grapefruit is such a good option for anyone who wants to up their vitamin C intake and get a rundown on some of the biggest benefits of vitamin C, we spoke to Trista Best, dietitian for Balance One Supplements. She told us that this fruit can fulfill the majority of your vitamin C intake each day. Find all of her insight below!
READ MORE:
The Vitamin C-Packed Food You Should Be Eating Right Now For Gut Health And Immunity
3 Superfoods You Should Be Eating Every Day For A Healthier Body Over 40, According To Doctors
Why People Who Take This Form of Vitamin C Everyday Have A Stronger Immune System
Grapefruit
Grapefruit is one citrus you may be underestimating. Best tells us that it’s a good source of Vitamin C, making it a great addition to your daily diet. “Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic
acid, is an essential nutrient that acts as an antioxidant in the body, helping to neutralize harmful free radicals that can contribute to inflammation and other health problems,” she says. When you increase your intake of antioxidants and therefore decrease inflammation, you’re likely to see a range of health benefits, from weight loss to a healthier heart.
But that isn’t all Vitamin C is good for. “Vitamin C is also important for the production of collagen, which helps to keep skin, tendons, and other connective tissues strong and healthy,” Best goes on. “Additionally, vitamin C is necessary for the absorption of iron from plant-based foods and for the immune system to function properly.” Incredible! That means that not only can a daily grapefruit help keep inflammation at bay, but it may also help you look and feel younger than ever (thank you, collagen!) and even give your immune system a boost.
How much vitamin C is in grapefruit?
Okay, so there’s no denying that Vitamin C is great for you–but just how much can you get from grapefruit? As it turns out, a lot. “A medium-sized grapefruit contains around 70-90mg of vitamin C, which is about 75-100% of the recommended daily value, depending on the size of the
grapefruit,” Best tells us. For this reason, “eating a grapefruit can be a great way to boost your vitamin C intake and support overall health.”
It’s important to keep in mind, though, that you should practice a little bit of caution if you want to start enjoying this fruit. As Best notes, grapefruit can lead to adverse side effects if you’re taking certain medications, so you should always talk to your doctor about this if you’re taking medication and you’re unsure of how it may interact with the fruit. Otherwise, though, there’s no reason you shouldn’t dig into a juicy grapefruit each day–your body will thank you!
