15 Health Benefits of Tangerines
Tangerines are smaller, sweeter, and
lighter versions of oranges. They're also usually easier to peel than
pretty much any other citrus fruit and give off a distinct aroma. Not
only do they taste and smell great - they're also bursting with
nutrients and can help with maintaining good heart, muscle, hair, skin
and digestive system health. Let's dive into the scientific facts about
this great fruit:
1. They're good for the skin
What we look out for most as we age are changes to our faces. Of course,
the more we take care of our facial skin, the more youthful we look.
Try making yourself an all-natural face mask using one tablespoon plain
yogurt, one teaspoon honey, and the juice from three or four tangerine
segments. Apply it to your face, leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then
rinse it off and apply your usual moisturizer. This will rid your skin
of excess oil and bacteria, leaving your face looking radiant.
2. They can improve your smile
Vitamin C is one of the vitamins that contribute to the health of our
gums. If you frequently get puffy, red gums that bleed when you brush
your teeth, you are probably in need of a boost of this vitamin, and
tangerines are a great source of it. So, unless you want to suffer from
gingivitis in the future, eat tangerines regularly to keep your smile in
check.
3. They strengthen your bones
Another thing that tangerines can improve is bone health. According to a
study carried out at Tufts University, men who consumed plenty of
vitamin C and potassium, both found in tangerines, saw improvements in
their bone density and in reduced bone fracture frequencies. So, to keep
your bones from going brittle, you should stock up on some tangerines.
4. They slow down the aging process
Tangerines consist of antioxidants, which are known to offer a wealth of
benefits to your skin. One of the wonderful things they can do is help
you maintain a youthful glow. This means that eating tangerines
regularly can slow down the aging process, enabling your skin to look
its very best for longer.
5. They enable you to absorb iron more efficiently
Certain food combinations can be especially good for your health, and
this is just as true for tangerines. When a tangerine's vitamin C teams
up with the dietary iron from another food, such as spinach, it enables
your body to absorb the iron much more easily. Iron is essential for our
health, and a lack of it may result in fatigue, shortness of breath,
dark circles under the eyes and pallor.
6. They promote hair health
In addition to making your hair shiny, tangerines can contribute to
stabilizing hair growth, reducing hair loss in the process. They can
delay your hair from going gray. A recent study found that "bad hair
days" can have an undesirable effect on our self-esteem, which can lead
to social insecurities and declines in self-worth. Eating tangerines or
applying their juice to your hair and scalp will make them both look and
feel better.
7. They boost your mood
Did you know that the smell of citrus has some surprising psychological
effects? Smelling a tangerine can improve your mood significantly,
according to Barbara Thomley, the lead coordinator for the Complementary
and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic. Smelling one reduces
stress and anxiety levels, leaving you feeling more relaxed. So the next
time you're feeling low, you may find sniffing a tangerine to be an
instant mood-booster.
8. They improve your immune system
With their nutritional value, tangerines won't just shield you from
certain illnesses, but help you to fight them off as well. Your battle
against the common cold, for example, can easily be reinforced with the
help of the vitamin C present in this fruit. Perhaps you could also
consider pairing it up with a cup of mint tea to enhance its
effectiveness. Check out this insightful article about the health
benefits of bananas.
9. They support the digestive system
Tangerines are rich in vitamin A, a digestive system essential. A
substantial intake of this vitamin may have positive effects on nutrient
absorption and hydration in your digestive tract. Besides, tangerines
contain three to four ounces of water, which is also great for
digestion.
10. They're good for your muscles
If you're looking to build some muscle, you will need to stock up on
some useful foods. Although bananas are more well-known for being rich
in potassium, tangerines also possess a significant amount of it (115+
mg), making this tiny fruit incredibly beneficial for muscle growth and
recovery. While we're at it, check out this insightful article about the
health benefits of bananas.
11. They help prevent diabetes
The fruit also contains the flavonoid called nobiletin, which is great
for preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes. Evidence has shown that
tangerines act as natural agents, which lessen the buildup of fat
(especially in the liver) by preventing it from being stored and helping
the body burn it off.
12. They protect your heart
In addition to preventing the onset of diabetes, the aforementioned
nobiletin also helps prevent atherosclerosis, which is the hardening of
arteries and blood vessels due to plaque buildup from high cholesterol.
It is the leading cause of a number of serious heart conditions, such as
heart attacks and strokes. With regard to the risk of blood
clot-related strokes, a Nurses’ Health Study found that this decreased
by 19% in women who had a consistent intake of citrus fruits such as
tangerines.
13. They give a boost to your red blood cells
Because tangerines contain nearly 20 mg of folate, which is the
naturally-occurring version of folic acid, they are considered
beneficial for your blood. This vitamin promotes DNA cell repair, as
well as cell and tissue growth. Note that one tangerine isn't enough to
cover your recommended daily folate intake, but it sure is an inviting
way to boost it.
14. They help you control your weight
Apart from being a filling fruit due to its plentiful water content, a
tangerine contains certain fibers that can keep you satiated for longer.
This makes it a fantastic between-meal healthy snack. What's more,
tangerines boost the production of cortisol, a stress hormone that
affects the body's way of storing fat, enabling you to keep your body
slim.
15. They help battle cancer and other serious diseases
Certain compounds found in tangerines, namely tangerin, and limonoids,
are thought of possessing disease-fighting properties, especially
against leukemia and breast cancers. According to some Korean studies,
there appears to be a link between the intake of tangerines and the
reduced risk of these diseases, however, this remains unproven.
Nevertheless, we're sure you'll feel much healthier if you eat lots of
this potent citrus fruit!
And speaking of disease-fighting foods, don't forget to check out our
list of cancer-fighting superfoods,