Not only is it citrus season, but it's February, and that means it's National Grapefruit Month! I was surprised to find out that grapefruit had its own month of celebration, but why shouldn't it? Grapefruits are packed full of vitamins, they taste amazing, and they're a quick fix to a healthy breakfast. In honor of the grapefruit, here are eleven fun facts why you should celebrate and eat grapefruit all month!
1. Loaded with Vitamin C
One raw pink or red grapefruit contains 64% of your daily serving of vitamin C.
2. Friendly to Diets
Cholesterol-free, diabetics, fat-free, gluten-free, raw, vegan, and vegetarians alike can enjoy eating grapefruit.
3. Plentiful Trees
A single grapefruit tree can produce over 1,500 pounds of fruit.
4. Varieties Determined by Color
The flesh of the grapefruit determines what variety it is. There are three colors: pink, red, and white. The type you see most at the store is called White Marsh Seedless, which has a yellow-white flesh.
5. Alkaline Citrus Fruit
When we think of citrus, we think of acidity. Eating a citrus packed grapefruit, however, has an alkaline reaction. This can help against diseases caused by acidity in the body.
6. Incredibly Healthy
Along with vitamin C, grapefruits contain potassium, lycopene, antioxidants, and are high in fiber. They contain bioflavonoids which play a vital role in protecting the body against ailments like cancer and heart disease.
7. Fun Names Like “Forbidden Fruit” or “Shaddocks”
Grapefruit was originally known as the “forbidden fruit” or “Shaddocks.” According to MentalFloss.com, this was a reference to an “English ship commander who brought pomelo seeds to the West Indies.”
8. Most Comes From Florida
Along with our beloved oranges, the majority of the world's grapefruit is grown in the USA in Florida. China is the second largest producer outside of the USA.
9. Fruit of Texas
In 1993, the red grapefruit became the official fruit of Texas.
10. It Was an Accident!
When an orange and a pomelo were crossed, the result was the hybrid grapefruit. And we thank them for that.
11. “Grapefruit” Coined by a Farmer
The term grapefruit was invented by a Jamaican farmer in the 1800s.
