Limes, oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are just some of the juiciest out there but these citrus fruits are more than their sour-sweet taste – they pack a lot of health benefits, which is why they can also be alternated with an apple as something that can keep the doctor away.
That’s right, as colorful as they are, they are not kidding with their serious nutrition content. Here are the ways they help us:
Weight Loss
First on this list is something that we all have been dying to know about. Citrus fruits are known to be helpful in boosting our immune system, which means it can help our bodies ward off diseases, but apparently, these also help shed off the pounds!
The science behind this is this: the fiber content of these fruits can stabilize the blood sugar levels, which means you won’t go scavenging food in your pantry to answer that craving because you basically feel full for a longer period.
Does that mean you gulp on orange juice and lose weight? Not exactly. A serving of the drink has 21 grams of sugar compared to the 14 grams of a large orange. Plus, there won’t be fiber, which is helpful in weight loss, in the juice. Dietician Alexandra Caspero also pointed out that peeling and eating the fruit entail work which would be helpful in shedding pounds.
Good for the Heart
It’s not only good for our immune system, but it turns out it is also great in keeping our hearts healthy. “The Small Change Diet” author Keri Gans said this is because citrus fruits have flavonoids that do the job.
Another study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry saw that those who had coronary bypass surgery had lower triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and cholesterol levels after eating grapefruit daily for a month.
There are over a hundred phytochemicals in this type of fruit that decreases inflammation that could harm the heart, Alexandra explained.
She also said that these have folate, which reduces amino acid homocysteine – increased levels of this increases risk of heart disease. However, note that grapefruit can interfere with medications for depression and high blood pressure.
Hydration
Citrus fruits are also hydrating, much like cucumbers and watermelon. Grapefruits have 88-percent and oranges have 87-percent water content, which means that you can munch up on these if you don’t have a bottle of water available.
As we all know, water-rich food can make you feel full because there are times when we feel we’re hungry, but actually, we’re just dehydrated.
Better Skin
The benefits of citrus fruits also transcend on what we can see. These are filled with vitamin C, which has a vital role in collagen production that is helpful in keeping a smooth and soft skin. Plus, orange peels are useful in exfoliating and cleansing your skin.