Citrus fruits have huge nutritional value

In an interview with “Arabs Today”, Dr. Kenza Saad, a physician of nutritional sciences, explained the commonly misunderstood benefits of citrus. She had several insights to share with us.  For exmple, she dispelled the myth which dictates that the amount of citric acid in lemons is detrimental to the stomach. Dr. Saad said that the potassium in lemons prevents the negative effects of acid on the stomach, and also explained that we miss out on many of the benefits of oranges by not eating the peels.  Dr. Kenza Saad discussed the details of the various health benefits of citric acids with “Arabs Today”. Q:  what is the importance of citric acids in autumn and winter? A: It is necessary to consume foods containing citric acids at this time of year, as they help to resist cold symptoms that affect many people in autumn and winter, due to being rich of "vitamin C", "potassium", "L-theanine", "wood fibres" that soften digestion, "vitamin B6", "magnesium", "Alglosad,", "folic acid", "calcium", "niacin", "phosphorus", "copper riboflavin" and "pantothenic acid". All of these vitamins are natural elements essential to the protection of the human body from illnesses such as anaemia, severe colds.  `Food containing citric acid are also considered an essential form of food for pregnant women. Eating two oranges or drinking orange juice helps to cure headaches, and is a substitute for taking aspirin.  Moreover it helps in reducing the heat of the body. Q:  So, which type of acid is most beneficial for our health? A: There are several types of acids – many of the foods containing them are found in abundance in Morocco, such as clementines.  This type of fruit reduces thirst, as it includes 85% water, and is a food suitable for people who need to diet, due to its low number of calories.  Clementines also contain 41 mg of "vitamin c" in each 100 grams, and "vitamin A", E, B9, iron, and antioxidants.  On the other hand, they do lack fibre. There are lemons, or as we Moroccans call them, "Sours". They contain an enormous amount of "vitamin C" - 52 mg per 100 mg to be precise. Since acids lack sugars, they are also recommended for patients with diabetes, and for people who are on a diet. "Citric Acid" also gives a strong flavour, and is full of "bomblemus" which are rich in "polyphenols", "citric acid", and fibres, but lack "vitamin C". Finally, there are oranges, which are the most famous and the most consumed in the Moroccan community. One orange can cover the daily amount of "vitamin C" for an adult.  Oranges seriously help to expel stress and tiredness, and give the body a boost of energy and freshness.  They also contain calcium in large quantities, which helps to strengthen bones. Q: Is it true that some people consider lemons to have a negative impact on the stomach? A: This belief is common but unfounded; many people think that eating lemons might damage the stomach, as they comprise a huge amount of acid (citric acid), but the potassium that they abound with prevents the effect of acid on the stomach, and does not cause any side effects on the digestive system, or the stomach in particular. Q: Do canned or carton citrus juices provide the same nutritional value as natural sources? A: The answer is no, of course not. That's why you don’t see "rich in vitamin C" written on the front of canned fruit.  Canned or carton juice loses natural vitamin C due to age and processing. This forces manufacturers to add a vitamin formula, which is not as beneficial as natural vitamins, and here I would advise everyone who prefers to drink orange juice rather than eating oranges to drink fresh squeezed juice - otherwise they will lose out on valuable "vitamin C". Q:  Some say that the peel of an orange is more important than the orange itself, is this true? A: That's right. Much of the nutritional value found in oranges is confined to their peel that unfortunately we don't eat. It would be beneficial to try eating it after grating it into juice, or integrated in jam, because the peel contains essential oils. It contains a substance called “volatile oil” which contains "limonene". This chemical inhibits bacteria and is beneficial for the respiratory system, and reduces high cholesterol. It is also fights typhoid, and forms of colon bacteria that cause diarrhoea in children. The consumption of orange peel is even more beneficial than its juice. The peel also contains fibres which have excellent nutritional value. Q: Rumour has it that orange leaves are very nutritional.  How can they be used? A: There is an interest ain the leaves of oranges, and the flowers of lemons.  Citrus trees are medicinal plants, and if their leaves are boiled in water, this can be drunk to alleviate pain, headaches, and fevers.  It is also beneficial for problems with throat, and vomiting.  We advise women who use " Lemon verbena" to use it for these purposes. If children complain that the taste of this mixture is sour, sweeten it with sugar or honey. Q: Many housewives prepare marmalade, but doesn't it lose its nutritional value when cooked? A: Marmalade is a way to consume oranges. However, the sugar content and other additives are problematic as they may spoil the natural ingredients. Unfortunately, we find in Morocco that many manufacturers are mainly focusing on the preparation of jam from apricots, and other fruits such as strawberries, but they do not produce lemon jam or marmalade. Luckily, housewives prepare it themselves, without any additional artificial components. It is sufficient enough to add some sugar and water to prepare a delicious, natural, and healthy and home-made jam. Q: Is it true that oranges fight cancer? A: Indeed, oranges contain substances that help to prevent cancer, including "limonene" and "flavonoid" - both anti-oxidants. Components of "vitamin C" prevent internal oxidation, and the quality of "wood fibres" in them help to prevent bowel cancer. Thus, the consumption of orange juice helps to reduce the risk of cancer in all its forms.