5 Important Health Benefits of Eating Citrus Fruit

Fresh citrus fruit is more than delicious, it's healthy too! Check out this post to learn about 5 super important benefits of adding citrus fruit to your diet. 

They’re tangy! They’re sweet! They’re really great to eat!

When you think of tangerines, grapefruits, oranges, lemons, and lime, you may instantly think of Vitamin C.

Citrus fruits are our go-to food whenever we have a cold or are trying to boost our immune system to prevent illness. Apart from its Vitamin C constitution, there are a lot of other benefits of fresh citrus fruit!

Here are five reasons why you should be adding more citrus fruits to your diet.

 1. They’ve Got Fiber

It is recommended that you have an intake of 14 grams of fiber for every 1000 calories you eat. A cup of orange juice alone can give you four grams!

Fiber aids in improving your digestive system. There’s a fiber called soluble fiber, which helps to lower cholesterol.

Citrus fruits are a great source of soluble fibers, which can help improve your digestion and cholesterol levels. Oranges are particularly high in soluble fiber.

Fiber-rich foods have a filling effect that makes you feel full longer, and this can aid in weight loss.

2. They are Heart Healthy

Citrus fruits can benefit your heart by lowering your blood pressure and improving your cholesterol levels. Their flavonoids (plant compounds) and soluble fibers improve cholesterol by lowering the “bad” cholesterol and increasing the “good” cholesterol. 

Vitamin C has also been said to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. In particular, grapefruits are said to be able to decrease systolic blood pressure.

3. They Have a Low Glycemic Index

If you are trying to lose weight, you may increase your intake of fruits with a lower glycemic index. The glycemic index ranks the rate at which carbohydrates raise the level of glucose in the blood. 

The lower the glycemic index, the slower the rise in blood glucose levels and incidentally, the rise in insulin levels. Grapefruits are said to have one of the lowest glycemic indexes, meaning the glucose is released slowly into your bloodstream. In this case, it won’t cause your blood sugar levels to spike but you may experience a steady spike in energy.

4. They Keep You Looking Young

It is a well-known fact that citrus fruits contain vitamin C. Vitamin C encourages collagen production and collagen is known to maintain the elasticity in the skin. So, this is yet another reason to increase your citrus fruit intake!

The vitamin C will reduce wrinkles and dry skin, giving your skin a youthful, supple and smooth look and feel!

5. Citrus Fruits and Weight Loss

As was mentioned earlier, the fiber found in citrus fruits keeps you feeling full for longer periods, making them a great weight-loss snack.

Citrus fruits are also low in calories, which not only helps you to lose weight but to maintain a healthy weight as well. 

Stay Healthy by Eating More Citrus

Citrus fruits have a vast range of health benefits, including antioxidant properties. If you are looking to stay healthy, eating a lot of fruit is one of the best things you can do.

However, while fruits are beneficial, always make sure that you have a balanced diet and are eating other important foods as well.

Check out our fresh citrus fruit for sale for grove-fresh fruit delivered to your door!

Try our seasonal citrus box while its available...the Craft Citrus Club!

Our Rio box is a 15-lb curated box of our fresh-harvested citrus from South Texas. The fruit is NOT gassed, rather it is tree-ripened. Our season runs from Nov-May for  oranges, grapefruit and mandarins.

Our Grande box is a 30-lb box of either fresh-harvested Rio Red Grapefruit or Sweet Oranges from South Texas.