January is peak season for citrus fruits, so why not bring a burst of sunshine to winter days? This sweet-sour, brightly colored group of fruits offers many health benefits and is easy to include in many recipes.

Citrus fruits are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and keeps skin smooth and elastic. Just one medium orange has all the vitamin C our body needs daily. Citrus fruits also have good amounts of other vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and copper.

Citrus fruits help lower cholesterol and aid in digestion. They are low in calories yet their water and fiber content help us feel full, helping with weight loss efforts.

According to Healthline.com, many studies have linked citrus fruits to a reduced risk of certain cancers and benefits to heart health. Additionally, the flavonoids in citrus fruits may help boost brain function and protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s due to their anti-inflammatory properties.

Take advantage of the bounty of options this month and try a new type of citrus each week. Instead of grabbing a bag of navel oranges or tangerines, try blood oranges, pomelos, or Cara Cara oranges. Try a Persian or kaffir lime, a Meyer lemon, a kumquat, a ruby red grapefruit or a Honeywell tangelo.

The sweeter citrus fruits can be enjoyed on their own, but consider adding the juice, pulp or peel of citrus fruits to recipes that could use some tang. Search online for citrus recipes that inspire you. Some ideas include a tangerine and lime green smoothie, lemon chicken soup, orange glazed poultry or vegetables, a salad with grilled mandarins or a salad dressing with grapefruit. Look online for mocktail recipes with fresh citrus and zest such as an orange ginger fizz, a citrus cranberry sunrise or a tropical limeade sparkler with pineapple. Combine citrus to make a winter sangria.

Bakers can get creative by incorporating citrus pulp into marmalades and jams. Candied or preserved citrus peel can be enjoyed in sandwiches or Moroccan dishes.

There can be too much of a good thing; make sure not to overdo eating citrus, as the acid can increase the risk of cavities and upset the stomach. Also, grapefruit can interact with certain medications, so check with your doctor if you are taking prescription medicines.

Fun facts about citrus:

• Citrus fruits are a type of berry with a tough rind called a hesperidium.
• Mature citrus trees produce 16.7 tons of oxygen per acre each year.
• Naval oranges get their name from the bottom of the orange that looks like a belly button.
• The color orange is named after the fruit, not vice versa.
• The flowers of an orange tree are white and are used in making perfume due to their wonderful scent.
• By attaching electrodes to a lemon, you can make a battery. Several lemon batteries can power a small digital watch.
• Lemons were once presented as gifts to kings because they were so rare.
• Lemon juice is a natural whitener for laundry.
• Tangerines are named after the place they were first shipped from, Tangier in Morocco.
• Tangerine essential oil helps soothe anxious feelings and manage stress.
• A grapefruit is 92% water.
• Grapefruits’ name comes from growing in bunches like grapes.
• A tangelo is a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine.
• Citrus fruits grown in tropical climates will stay green. Citrus fruits need cold temperatures to turn orange or yellow.

 

By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo