How healthy is grapefruit?

Q: How many calories are in grapefruit?

100 g of grapefruit has 42 kcal. A typical portion, half a grapefruit (123 g), has about 52 kcal.

Q: How much protein is in grapefruit?

Grapefruit has 0.8 g of protein per 100 g, or about 0.9 g in half a grapefruit.

Q: Is grapefruit good for weight loss?

Grapefruit is low in calories (42 kcal per 100 g), so it adds volume to meals without many calories. No single food causes weight loss; the overall diet does.

Is grapefruit healthy? Yes, for most people. Grapefruit scores 83/100 on the HowHealthyIs Score: 100 g provides 42 kcal, 31 mg vitamin C and 58 µg vitamin A. Half a grapefruit gives a good share of daily vitamin C for very few calories. Source: USDA FoodData Central.

High in vitamin C
Low fat

Score explained

The score compares nutrient density per 100 kcal across every food we cover (NRF9.3 method). Grapefruit ranks higher than 83% of them.

Counts in favor (% daily value per 100 kcal)

Vitamin C83%
Vitamin A15%
Fiber14%
Potassium7%
Magnesium5%
Calcium4%
Protein4%
Vitamin E2%
Iron1%

Counts against

Saturated fat0%
Added sugars0%
Sodium0%

Raw NRF9.3: 134 minus 0 = 134. The score is not a verdict on whether to eat a food; portion, the whole meal and your own health matter more. Full methodology

How many calories are in grapefruit?

Your amount

Calories52kcal

Protein0.9g

Carbohydrates13g

Fat0.2g

Fiber2g

Sugars8.5g

Nutrition facts for grapefruit. Per 100 g and for the selected portion (123 g). %DV uses FDA Daily Values.
Nutrient	Per 100 g	Per portion	%DV
Energy and macronutrients
Calories	42 kcal	52 kcal
Protein	0.8 g	0.9 g	2%
Carbohydrates	11 g	13 g	5%
Fiber	1.6 g	2 g	7%
Sugars	6.9 g	8.5 g
Added sugars	0 g	0 g	0%
Fat	0.1 g	0.2 g	0%
Saturated fat	<0.1 g	<0.1 g	0%
Vitamins
Vitamin A	58 µg	71 µg	8%
Vitamin C	31 mg	38 mg	43%
Vitamin E	0.1 mg	0.2 mg	1%
Minerals
Calcium	22 mg	27 mg	2%
Iron	<0.1 mg	<0.1 mg	1%
Potassium	135 mg	166 mg	4%
Magnesium	9 mg	11 mg	3%
Sodium	0 mg	0 mg	0%

Source: USDA FoodData Central, "Grapefruit, raw, pink and red, all areas" (FDC 174673). Values rounded.

Why is grapefruit good for you?

38 mg vitamin C in half a grapefruit, 43% of the daily value. Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.

Good ways to use it

Breakfast
Salads with avocado

What should you watch out for?

Grapefruit interacts with many medicines, including some statins and blood pressure drugs. Check your medication leaflet or ask a pharmacist.

Which fruits score higher?

Other fruits with more nutrition per calorie. Variety matters more than picking one winner.

Guava

68 kcal per 100 g

High in vitamin C, Source of fiber

Lime

30 kcal per 100 g

High in vitamin C, Low calorie

Lemon

29 kcal per 100 g

High in vitamin C, Low calorie

How does grapefruit compare?

Common questions about grapefruit

How many calories are in grapefruit?

100 g of grapefruit has 42 kcal. A typical portion, half a grapefruit (123 g), has about 52 kcal.

How much protein is in grapefruit?

Grapefruit has 0.8 g of protein per 100 g, or about 0.9 g in half a grapefruit.

Is grapefruit good for weight loss?

Grapefruit is low in calories (42 kcal per 100 g), so it adds volume to meals without many calories. No single food causes weight loss; the overall diet does.

Sources

U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central, SR Legacy: "Grapefruit, raw, pink and red, all areas", FDC ID 174673. fdc.nal.usda.gov
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels (21 CFR 101.9).
Fulgoni VL, Keast DR, Drewnowski A. Development and validation of the Nutrient-Rich Foods Index. J Nutr. 2009;139(8):1549-1554.
Monteiro CA, et al. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(5):936-941.

Review and updates

Last updated: October 8, 2026
Medical review: Pending. A registered dietitian signs off every food page before launch. Our reviewers
Score version: HowHealthyIs Score 1.0

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More: Fruits ranked, foods high in vitamin C.