(NaturalHealth365) Citrus fruits are renowned for being one of the best sources of critical health-promoting compounds.  Oranges, grapefruits, limes, and lemons are all loaded with vitamin C and are high in phytonutrients, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols.

According to a study published in the international journal, Biofactors, citrus fruits contain many chemical compounds that are responsible for a number of important biological activities.  Flavanones, for instance, support the body’s natural defenses, defend against oxidative stress, help prevent cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, and even cancer.

Translation? Citrus fruits enhance our health in so many ways, yet, most of us don’t give them enough credit for all the good they do when we eat them.

Combat gum disease and cut gum bleeding by eating just two grapefruits a day

A study published in the British Dental Journal found that eating just two grapefruit a day can raise vitamin C levels in the body to a level high enough to promote healing and reduce gum bleeding.  The two-week study included 58 people with chronic gum disease, some of whom were smokers, others were non-smokers.

Interestingly, at the start of the study, almost all participants had low levels of vitamin C in their blood.  Smokers had nearly 30 percent lower vitamin C levels than non-smokers.  This difference does not come as a surprise, considering that science has long established that smoking is a risk factor for gum disease.  At the end of the trial, all participants experienced significantly less bleeding from the gums.

Bottom line: If you have gum disease, increasing your vitamin C levels by eating only two grapefruits a day can be a quick and easy way to cut gum bleeding and promote healing.

Citrus fruit flavonoids fight inflammation offering hope to sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease

Gum disease is not the only health issue that citrus fruits can improve.  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is another example.  Tragically, millions of Americans suffer from the uncomfortable symptoms of persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, and constant abdominal pain, with little to no hope for a cure.

Ignorance is definitely not bliss when it comes to IBD.  In fact, letting Crohn’s disease go untreated allows the condition to progress, leading to even more severe symptoms and complications.  Unfortunately, Western medicine has limited options to offer to treat the disease besides synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs.

Like most pharmaceuticals, anti-inflammatory drugs come with many side effects, which caused the scientific community to shift its attention to natural products.  Several studies concluded that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of citrus fruits and their flavonoids make them particularly beneficial in treating and preventing IBD.

Bottom line: If you live with IBD and rely on anti-inflammatory drugs to manage your symptoms, consider increasing your consumption of grapefruits, oranges, limes, and lemons to tap into some of nature’s most incredible anti-inflammatory compounds.

Love to exercise but hate the aching muscles? Citrus fruits can help reduce muscle fatigue

Working out offers undeniable health benefits, but lactic acid can build up in our muscles when we exercise vigorously.  If this build-up happens faster than it can be removed, we can end up with annoying muscle fatigue.  A study published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal called Maturitas found that drinking 500 mL of orange juice per day can reduce blood lactate concentration, improve physical performance, and decrease muscle fatigue.

Please note: We do not recommend drinking commercially produced fruit juices because these products are loaded with simple sugars and offer little nutritional value.  To keep your blood sugar balanced, we recommend eating the whole fruit or juicing fresh (organic only) produce – to avoid unwanted chemicals.

Calm your anxiety with orange aromatherapy

If you are familiar with aromatherapy, you know how effective the inhalation of essential oils can be, especially to influence your mood.  Thankfully, the number of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials evaluating the effects of essential oils on anxiety symptoms has increased over the past few years.

In a study published in the journal Physiology and Behavior, researchers assigned 72 participants in a dentist’s office to two groups to see if exposing one of the groups to “ambient odor of orange” had a relaxing effect.  Patients in the “odor” group reported reduced anxiety, a greater sense of calm, and a more positive mood than people in the control group.

A second study put orange essential oil to the test in an even more stressful situation.  Researchers assigned 100 women in labor to two groups: the intervention group – which they then exposed to orange essential oil – and the control group – which they exposed to distilled water.  Although both groups reported reduced anxiety levels, the reduction was more significant in the intervention group.

By the way, if you need additional reasons to start consuming citrus fruits more regularly, keep all of the above in mind PLUS:

• Citrus fruits are a powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients that strengthen your immune system
• They are an excellent source of fiber (according to estimates, only a tiny percentage of Americans consume adequate amounts of fiber daily)
• Citrus fruits may help prevent kidney stones from forming
• Citrus flavonoids protect against cancer cell growth

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
DailyMail.co.uk
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CDC.gov
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