
Fruits, like orange, grapefruit, clementine, etc., are termed as citrus fruits. These citrus fruits contain oodles of essential nutrients and vitamins that our body require for a smooth functioning.
Citrus Fruits have Something to Offer to Everyone
Nutrients for a healthy body, calcium for healthy bones, vitamins for healthy skin.
Citrus fruits are edible fruits that belong to the genus Citrus, and family Rutaceae. The pulp of these fruits is juicy. These fruits are either eaten by simply peeling off the skin, or are squeezed to make juice. In early times, countries in the Mediterranean region were leading producers of these fruits. Today, however, their cultivation is carried out in many countries of the world. They are usually cultivated in regions with warm climates.
List of Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits can be eaten raw, can be sliced, wedged, juiced, grilled, etc., and used to make a variety of dishes, like salads, jams, marmalade, pies, etc. Oranges and lemons are the commonly known citrus fruits in the world.
Orange
Orange is considered as the king of citrus fruits. Valencia, Satsuma and Navel orange are popular varieties of oranges. Eating an orange is the best natural method to cleanse and beautify skin. Oranges are also used in several cleansing agents, perfumes, and for cooking purposes.
Quick Fact: Did you know that, after chocolate, orange is one of the most popular and favored flavors in the world?
Lemon
Lemon is one citrus fruit that has a myriad health benefits. It is used to disinfect wounds and lesions; it acts as an astringent and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Lemon mixed with water is used to treat sore throat and other anti-bacterial infections. Lemon is used in a variety of food preparations and is also used for cleaning purposes.
Quick Fact: Lemon is one of the most commonly used ingredient in cooking due to its varied nature.
Lime
Lime is yellowish-green in color and contains more amount of acid than other citrus fruits. Lime is mostly used as a detoxifying agent for cleaning body. Other benefits of lime include its use in treating constipation, peptic ulcer, and other digestive disorders. It is also used for culinary purposes.
Quick Fact: As a lime is less sour than a lemon, it is commonly used in making desserts and baked goods, like the popular Key Lime pie.
Mandarin
This is a seedless orange with loose skin. Mandarin is sweeter than any other varieties of orange. It contains high fiber, and is fat and cholesterol free. Mandarin essential oil has a tonic effect on the digestive system, and is also used as an anti-spasmodic agent.
Quick Fact: During the Chinese New Year, mandarin oranges symbolize luck, abundance, positivity, and good fortune.
Clementine
The seedless variety of mandarin is Clementine. It is also high in fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. It is considered as a natural energy booster. Clementine helps in providing antioxidants to the body, aids weight loss, and also improves vision.
Quick Fact: Clementine fruit is also known as a Christmas Orange as it is available from November through January.
Tangerine
Tangerine is an orange-red Mandarin with a citrus or sour taste. The acid content in this variety is relatively less. Tangerine is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B1, B2 and B6, calcium, iron, and potassium. Tangerines specifically help in lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Quick Fact: The word ‘tangerine’ is derived from the word, ‘Tangier’, a port in Morocco. Tangerine means a native of Tangier.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit is a larger variety of orange. Grapefruit is rich in fiber, beta carotene, iron, calcium and contains less amount of calories. Having grapefruit on a regular basis aids in lowering cholesterol and enhancing the immune system. There are several varieties of grapefruit available in the market.
Quick Fact: The United States of America is the largest producer of grapefruit in the world. Interestingly, a grapefruit is synonymous to breakfast in many places.
Kumquat
Kumquat is a citrus fruit with an edible skin. It contains vitamins A, B, C, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. It helps in healing of wounds, enhances immunity, and also lowers the risk of obesity. It is mostly used for culinary purposes or for making liqueur. Salted kumquats can be used for treating sore throat.
Quick Fact: Contrary to other citrus fruits, the rind of a kumquat is sweet, while the juice is sour. A kumquat is often consumed whole.
Minneola Tangelo
Minneola tangelo is a cross between a Dancy tangerine and a Duncan grapefruit. Being a citrus fruit, this hybrid fruit is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, etc. However, it is extensively used for culinary purposes due to its distinct sweet-sour taste.
Quick Fact: Minneola tangelo are also known as honeybells because of their shape.
Pomelo
Pomelo (or Pummelo) is similar to grapefruit, but, somewhat larger in size. Its outer skin is much thicker and the fruit is less sweeter than other varieties of orange. It aids in improving immunity, protecting teeth and gums, and also helps to prevent anemia. Pomelo is mostly used as a low-calorie, low-fat snack.
Quick Fact: Pomelo easily crossbreeds with other citrus fruits. A tangelo (cross between tangerine and pomelo) and grapefruit (cross between pomelo and orange) are the examples.
Sweetie
Also known as oroblanco, sweetie or sweetie fruit, it is a cross between pomelo and grapefruit. Sweetie fruit is green in color and is very sweet. One of the prominent health benefits of this citrus fruit is its use in reducing diastolic blood pressure.
Quick Fact: Sweeties do not have much flavor, but, are popular for their sweetness.
Ugli
Ugli is a kind of tangelo, that is a cross between tangerine, grapefruit, and orange. Ugli fruit is used to treat various allergies, hives, and reactions on skin. It helps in keeping several gastrointestinal diseases at bay, and is also believed to prevent kidney stones.
Quick Fact: UGLI is the trademark of Cabel Hall Citrus Limited, that sells Jamaican tangelos.
Health Benefits
All citrus fruits are rich sources of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). It is primarily essential for the prevention of scurvy.
Vitamin C is required for maintaining healthy teeth. It is essential for enhancing our immune system. It helps in keeping infectious diseases at bay. Adequate consumption of vitamin C on a regular basis is believed to lower the chances of high blood pressure, cancer and heart diseases.
Vitamin C helps in detoxifying all chemicals and toxins from the blood stream. It acts as an antioxidant, and is necessary for proper absorption of iron in the body.
All citrus fruits have a characteristic fragrance and flavor. Hence, they are used to make essential oils for aromatherapy, perfumes, essence, etc.
Citrus fruits are fat free and cholesterol free. Therefore, they can be consumed as healthy breakfast, snacks, weight loss foods, etc.
As you see, all these fruits are loaded with nutrients required by our body. You can choose any fruit of your choice and include it in your daily diet.