Food battles range from who makes the better slice of New York thin crust pizza to who has the hotter chicken wings. In the battle of grapefruit vs. orange, there are no real losers.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recommends people obtain nine servings or 4 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables daily. When deciding between the two fruits, very little determines why one should be eaten over the other. It may be best to enjoy both of them and the benefits each has to offer.
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Nutritionally Very Similar
Both oranges and grapefruit are similarly matched in terms of being low calorie with zero fat, cholesterol or sodium. Eating a whole medium orange will provide 60 calories versus 40 calories when eating a half of a grapefruit, according to nutrition data from the USDA.
Oranges have overall higher carbohydrates, breaking down into more grams of sugar and fiber than grapefruit. Oranges provide more vitamin C, offering 77 percent of the daily needs as well as being higher in selenium and one of the B vitamins, thiamin. Oranges also have slightly more folate than grapefruits.
On the other hand, grapefruits have more vitamin A at 7 percent versus 2 percent and slightly more phosphorus, while still providing almost half the daily dose of vitamin C.
Read more: The Effects of Eating Too Many Oranges
Many Uses of Oranges
Oranges are commonly eaten whole or juiced. The rind can be zested to add flavor to recipes, and the more sour varieties can be made into marmalades to help sweeten them. The blossoms from the orange tree are commonly used in teas and as decorative touches in some Asian countries.
The peel can be used as a slug repellent for gardeners, and a special type of honey can be made by having bees in citrus groves during bloom. This honey is called orange blossom honey and picks up the flavor of oranges.
Read more: The Effects of Eating Too Much Grapefruit
Many Uses of Grapefruits
Grapefruits are often eaten halved with sugar or other sweeteners on top while the inside is cut away from the peel with a knife or a spoon. The juice is also popular as a breakfast beverage. When not eaten fresh, grapefruit is a popular fruit in canned fruit cup and fruit salad mixes.
In a few countries, such as Australia, grapefruit is enjoyed as a marmalade or jelly. The peel of the fruit can be candied and used as a source of pectin for preservation of other fruits. The peel oil is used to flavor many different sodas as well as enhance the flavor of other juices.
Medication Interactions With Citrus Fruit
People who take medications for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, anxiety or other psychological drugs need to check with a doctor before eating grapefruit in any form. Harvard Health states that certain enzymes in grapefruit juices and two species of oranges, Seville and tangelos, interfere with medication absorption at the gut level.
While the enzymes decrease absorption of the medications by as much as 47 percent, this interaction can simultaneously cause the medications to reach the bloodstream more quickly, causing a faster reaction to the drug than intended. For those who like fruit in the morning with their medications, oranges ma be the safer choice. However, consult with your doctor or pharmacist first.