Grapefruit vs. Grapefruit Juice: Which is Better for Immunity and Fiber?

Summary: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are both great for your immune system, but they do different things for your body. If you want a fast, concentrated dose of Vitamin C to help fight off germs, a glass of grapefruit juice is your best bet. It gives you almost 60% of your daily Vitamin C in one glass!

However, if you want to improve your digestion and heart, you should eat the whole grapefruit. Juicing removes most of the fruit's fiber and antioxidants (like lycopene and beta-carotene). The whole fruit has special fiber called pectin that keeps you full, feeds the good bacteria in your gut, and even helps lower your cholesterol.

Before you add grapefruit to your diet, you need to watch out for two things. First, grapefruit can mix badly with certain medicines, like allergy pills, blood pressure drugs, and statins. It can stop your body from breaking the medicine down properly, so always ask your doctor first. Second, watch out for added sugar. Grapefruit is bitter, so people and juice companies often add sugar, which can lead to weight gain. Try to keep your added sugar below 50 grams a day!

For more details, see Health.com at health.com/grapefruit-vs-grapefruit-juice-11894289 (opens in new tab)