HEALTH BENEFITS OF CITRUS FRUITS.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CITRUS FRUITS.

Citrus is a group of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in this group produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes, etc. Citrus originated from South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Australia.

Not only are citrus fruits flavorful, but they’re also good for your health. They have lots of health benefits, from boosting immunity to fighting cancer.

Below are some of the health benefits of Citrus fruits:

• They’re rich in vitamins: Citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, a nutrient that strengthens the immune system. One interesting fact about Citrus fruits is that just one medium orange has all the vitamin C you need in a day.

Citrus fruits also have good amounts of other vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function properly, including vitamin B, potassium, phosphorous, etc.

• They’re a good source of fiber: Citrus fruits are a good source of fiber. One cup of orange for example, contains four grams of fiber. Fiber has several health benefits, such as improving digestive health and reducing weight.

Oranges are high in soluble fiber. This kind of fiber helps lower cholesterol levels. So, we can say that citrus fruits help to lower cholesterol levels.

• Citrus fruits are low in calories: If you’re watching your calorie intake, citrus fruits are a good choice because they help to lose and maintain weight.

• They help reduce the risk of kidney stones: Kidney stones are painful mineral crystals. They form when your urine is very concentrated.

One of the types of kidney stones is caused by low levels of citrate in urine. Fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, help to raise the levels of citrate in your urine, thereby lowering the risk of kidney stones.

• They help protect your Brain: The flavonoids in citrus fruits help ward off neurodegenerative diseases which result from the breakdown of cells in the nervous system.

THE DOWNSIDE OF CITRUS FRUITS.

• Eating lots of citrus fruits or juices increase the risk of cavities.

• Fruit juice is not as healthy as whole fruit. This is because drinking juice has much more sugar and way less fiber than eating whole fruit.

• Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice can be a problem if you take certain medications such as Cyclosporine, Benzodiazepines, etc.