Trustpilot Reviews


Is Grapefruit Ok on The Candida Diet?

Updated 6/24/2022

Written by Dr. Brittany Buysschaert, PhD


A sweet, sour, and bitter delight, grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) is a citrus fruit. Grapefruit is a natural hybrid of the pomelo (Citrus maxima) and common sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). It is native to Barbados and was first identified in the mid 1700s. Like many citrus varieties, grapefruit likely originated via natural hybridization of close by orange and pomelo trees. The sweet orange and pomelo parents of grapefruit are native to Asia and were brought to Barbados in the 1600s. Grapefruit was first brought to the United States in 1823, and was a popular commercial commodity by the early 1900s.

Grapefruits-on-a-Table

There is no consensus as to why grapefruit is called as such—the most plausible answer may be that grapefruit grows on trees in clusters which look similar to clusters of grapes. A few scientists in the 1800s also described grapefruit as tasting like unripe grapes. Grapefruit trees tend to be around 18 feet tall and produce fruit approximately five inches in diameter. The main varieties of grapefruit are pink, red, and white. Red and pink grapefruit are sweeter and less tart than white grapefruit; red grapefruit is a bit sweeter and less sour than pink grapefruit. Pink grapefruit was first discovered growing on a tree in a grove of white grapefruit. Pink grapefruit was then purposefully bred and eventually became Ruby Red grapefruit, which was the first patented grapefruit variety in the 1920s.

The world’s leading producer of grapefruit is China, producing 50% of the world’s total with 9 million metric tons. China is also the world’s leading exporter, with 20% of the world’s exports at approximately 1 million metric tons.


Nutrient Profile of Grapefruit

One serving of grapefruit is ½ of a grapefruit, or approximately 154 grams. One serving contains 65 calories and is an excellent source of Vitamin C. Grapefruit is considered a low calorie food.


Carbohydrates

One serving of grapefruit contains 16 grams of carbohydrates, including 11 grams of sugar. Despite its sugar content, grapefruit is a low glycemic food with a glycemic index of 25.


Fibers

One serving of grapefruit contains 2.5 grams of fiber. Grapefruit contains approximately 20% insoluble fiber and 80% soluble fiber. Soluble fiber aids in healthy bowel movements, can help lower cholesterol, and helps diabetics maintain blood glucose levels.


Protein

Grapefruit is not a significant source of protein, containing 1 gram per serving.


Fats

Grapefruit is not a source of fat, containing < 0.5 gram per serving.


Vitamins & Minerals

Grapefruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C, containing 53% of the FDA recommended daily value and is a good source of Vitamin A, containing 10% of the FDA recommended daily value. Vitamin C protects cells from oxidative stress, reduces fatigue, increases iron absorption, and contributes to immune system functioning. Vitamin A helps maintain vision and supports immune system functioning.


Antioxidants in Grapefruit

Three main categories of phenolic antioxidant compounds are present in grapefruit: flavanones, p-hydroxybenzoic acids, and hydroxycinnamic acids (1). The most prominent antioxidants in grapefruit are the flavanones narirutin and naringen (1). Naringen is what gives grapefruit its bitter taste. Some of the other phenolic antioxidants in grapefruit are also important for taste, including the hydroxycinnamic acid ferulic acid. Ferulic acid is a precursor for a compound which produces off flavors in improperly stored grapefruit juice (2). The presence of flavonoids including naringen are the main source of health benefits for grapefruit, and will be discussed in more detail below.


Health Benefits of Grapefruit

The antioxidant content of grapefruit is the major source of grapefruit health benefits. These benefits come mainly from the flavanoid naringen and the secondary metabolite furanocoumarin. Naringen content is fairly unique to grapefruit, and is not found in high concentration in any other fruit or vegetable. Extensive research studies with mice showed naringen consumption may have positive effects against obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, liver disease, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease (3).

However, only a limited amount of research has shown the health effects of grapefruit consumption in humans. One such study showed that consumption of one serving of grapefruit per day improved the lipid profile and blood pressure of obese individuals (4). Consuming an amount of naringen equivalent to that found in about 1 L of grapefruit juice could significantly lower total cholesterol as well as low density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol (5).

Drinking grapefruit juice daily for 7 weeks reduced formations of specific lesions which are often the earliest indication of colorectal cancer (6). This reduction is thought to be due to the antioxidant activity of grapefruit juice, which is mainly due to naringen (7).

Furanocoumarins present in grapefruit also give health benefits. Several studies have suggested that grapefruit consumption would be beneficial in reducing the risk of breast cancer. This is due to the presence of the furanocoumarins bergamottin, which was shown to inhibit breast cancer cell growth (8). Consuming raw grapefruit has been associated with less depression symptoms and a greater positive mood (9). Furanocoumarins can also have negative health effects, which will be discussed below.


Negative Health Effects of Grapefruit

Grapefruit can have serious negative health consequences when it interacts with certain drugs. For a few drugs, grapefruit will directly block the absorption of the drug in the small intestine. This will cause the drug to have a lesser effect or no effect for the patient.

For other drugs, furanocoumarins naturally present in grapefruit inhibit an enzyme responsible for metabolizing many drugs. The concentration of this metabolizing enzyme was shown to decrease by up to 47% four hours after grapefruit was eaten (10), and a deficit in the enzyme can last for up to three days (11). When this enzyme is inhibited, a drug may not be fully metabolized. This can lead to the level of the drug becoming too high in the bloodstream, which can cause adverse health effects.

Individuals have different concentrations of the metabolic enzyme grapefruit inhibits in their intestines. This means people can have very different and possibly unpredictable grapefruit drug interactions (12). Grapefruit is only known to interact with drugs taken orally, and does not have an effect on intravenously administered drugs (10).

Even one glass of grapefruit juice or one half of a fresh grapefruit is enough to cause adverse health effects. Some of the drug classes known to have interactions with grapefruit are statins, immunosuppressants, antiarrhythmics, protease inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers (13). It is advisable to consult with a doctor about the suitability of consuming grapefruit if taking any medications.


Grapefruit on The Candida Diet

The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for one half of a raw, medium, pink or red grapefruit (123g) measuring approximately 3 3/4" in diameter.

Calories: 52

Fat: 0.2g

Sodium: 0mg

Carbohydrates: 13g

Fiber: 2g

Sugars: 8.5g

Protein: 0.9g

In spite of the 13g of carbohydrates and 8.5g of natural sugars, grapefruit has a glycemic index of 25, which is low. Generally, any glycemic index below 55 is considered on the low side and is safe for diabetics. However, in spite of being safe for diabetics, if you are diabetic you should talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit because it interferes with many prescription drugs including those for diabetes.

Because of the low glycemic index and a glycemic load of 3, grapefruit is ok occasionally on the Candida Diet. Grapefruit may also have anti-candida effects based on the studies concerning grapefruit seed extract. It won't have as much as the extract but it will have some.


Back to Candida Diet Questions


If you have any questions about grapefruit and the Candida Diet or any other questions about yeast infections, please feel free to contact us from the contact page of this website or talk to your doctor.


Medical References

1. Kelebek, H. (2010). Sugars, organic acids, phenolic compositions and antioxidant activity of Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) cultivars grown in Turkey. Industrial Crops and Products, 32(3), 269-274.
2. Fallico, B., Lanza, M. C., Maccarone, E., Asmundo, C. N., & Rapisarda, P. (1996). Role of hydroxycinnamic acids and vinylphenols in the flavor alteration of blood orange juices. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 44(9), 2654-2657.
3. Alam, M. A., Subhan, N., Rahman, M. M., Uddin, S. J., Reza, H. M., & Sarker, S. D. (2014). Effect of citrus flavonoids, naringin and naringenin, on metabolic syndrome and their mechanisms of action. Advances in Nutrition, 5(4), 404-417.
4. Dow, C. A., Going, S. B., Chow, H. H. S., Patil, B. S., & Thomson, C. A. (2012). The effects of daily consumption of grapefruit on body weight, lipids, and blood pressure in healthy, overweight adults. Metabolism, 61(7), 1026-1035.
5. Jung, U. J., Kim, H. J., Lee, J. S., Lee, M. K., Kim, H. O., Park, E. J., ... & Choi, M. S. (2003). Naringin supplementation lowers plasma lipids and enhances erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Clinical Nutrition, 22(6), 561-568.
6. Madrigal-Bujaidar, E., Roaro, L. M., García-Aguirre, K., Garcia-Medina, S., & Alvarez-Gonzalez, I. (2013). Grapefruit juice suppresses azoxymethane-induced colon aberrant crypt formation and induces antioxidant capacity in mice. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 14(11), 6851-6856.
7. Hung, W. L., Suh, J. H., & Wang, Y. (2017). Chemistry and health effects of furanocoumarins in grapefruit. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 25(1), 71–83.
8. So, F. V., Guthrie, N., Chambers, A. F., Moussa, M., & Carroll, K. K. (1996). Inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation and delay of mammary tumorigenesis by flavonoids and citrus juices. Nutrition and Cancer, 26:2, 167-181,
9. Brookie, K. L., Best, G. I., & Conner, T. S. (2018). Intake of raw fruits and vegetables is associated with better mental health than intake of processed fruits and vegetables. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 487.
10. Dahan, A., & Altman, H. (2004). Food–drug interaction: grapefruit juice augments drug bioavailability—mechanism, extent and relevance. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 58(1), 1-9.
11. Takanaga, H., Ohnishi, A., Murakami, H., Matsuo, H., Higuchi, S., Urae, A., ... & Sawada, Y. (2000). Relationship between time after intake of grapefruit juice and the effect on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nisoldipine in healthy subjects. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 67(3), 201-214.
12. Dresser, G. K., & Bailey, D. G. (2003). The effects of fruit juices on drug disposition: a new model for drug interactions. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 33, 10-16.
13. Stump, A. L., Mayo, T., & Blum, A. (2006). Management of grapefruit-drug interactions. American Family Physician, 74(4), 605-608.




Home   Privacy Policy   Copyright Policy   Disclosure Policy   Doctors   Store

Copyright © 2003 - 2024. All Rights Reserved under USC Title 17. Do not copy
content from the pages of this website without our expressed written consent.
To do so is Plagiarism, Not Fair Use, is Illegal, and a violation of the
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

&autoLogAppEvents=1">