Numerous citrus fruits are rightly considered an invaluable source of vitamins and nutrients. People began to cultivate them in time immemorial, so long ago that no one even knows exactly when. Now all parts of citrus fruits are used, and nothing is wasted in vain – neither pulp, nor peel, nor bone.
The most useful fruit of the citrus genus is orange. It is even healthier than grapefruit and lemon. The first mention of citrus dates back to the III century BC. The high content of vitamin C makes all citrus fruits incredibly popular and in demand. Grapefruits are 92% water, making them one of the most moisture-containing fruits on the planet. If we recall that a person receives up to 20% of his daily water requirement from food, then the inclusion of only one grapefruit in his diet can significantly reduce the dehydration of the body. The smell of citrus fruits not only destroys bacteria and viruses, but also positively affects the mental state of a person, helping to cope with depression. About 20 percent of the world’s citrus fruits are sold and consumed in the form of fresh fruits. Everything else goes to the production of juices, extracts and canned goods. Many allergy sufferers know that eating lemons and grapefruits is much less likely to cause an allergic reaction than eating other fruits in this family. Sour orange was first brought to Europe by Portuguese sailors around the 10th century, and sweet orange only in the 15th century by Genoese merchants.
Bergamot is a citrus tree. Its fruits are much more acidic than lemons, so they are used only for making tea and perfumes. Each year, 14 million tons of lemons are harvested in the world. Most of these citrus fruits are harvested in Mexico and India. Oranges of the Washington Navel variety have no seeds, and therefore cannot be propagated by pollination and are reproduced only by grafting. Until the beginning of the XVIII century, citrus fruits were inaccessible to ordinary people. They decorated royal feasts. Aristocrats drank citrus juices, rubbed aromatic oils from these fruits into their skin, sewed dry skins of lemons into their clothes. Citrus trees can live up to 700 years. Grapefruit (“grape fruit”) got its name for the fact that its fruits grow on branches very closely and close to each other, and from a distance resemble large grapes.
In Europe, lemons have long been grown as an ornamental plant, while in Asia, on the contrary, lemons were used in both cooking and medicine. After the aroma of chocolate and vanilla, the smell of orange is recognized as the most pleasant in the world. Portuguese sailors came up with citrus juices to drink alcohol. Despite the fact that citrus juice contains the same set of vitamins and nutrients as a whole fruit, the latter is still more beneficial for the body. The thing is lost in squeezing fibers and increasing sugar levels. Tangerines help cope with hiccups. Pleasant treatment, isn’t it? In the peel, leaves, seeds of citrus vitamins more than in fruits. Delicious candied fruits can be prepared from the peel of oranges, which will replace any jam. Despite the general useful properties of grapefruits of all colors, it is red that is considered the most useful. They most often have more beta-carotene and antioxidants, among which lycopene, in fact, serves as the color identifier of the fruit.
Lemon whitens teeth perfectly. After a hearty lunch in the office, you are unlikely to have a toothbrush at hand, but a slice of lemon will always be found. Of all citrus fruits, only grapefruit contributes to weight loss. Why does a fruit have such an effect? The thing is that the body spends a lot more calories on the digestion of this fetus than it receives in the end. Do you know that grapefruit helps digestion better than other citrus fruits? However, do not abuse the juice made from this fruit. Recently, scientists made a stunning discovery: in combination with some drugs, the use of this citrus can lead to death. Lemon essential oil acts as an antidepressant. It not only improves mood, but also generally has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. In Spanish folk beliefs, a lemon symbolizes unrequited love, and an orange – mutual feelings. Valencia oranges are the most common in the world.
