So you eat the occasional grapefruit or guzzle a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice when it’s there for the taking. Great. But if you knew the true benefits of the citrus family of fruits—which also includes tangerines, lemons and limes—we’re pretty sure you’d up your daily intake. Why?
“Citrus fruits as a whole are packed with beneficial antioxidants and essential nutrients that can promote heart health and maybe even reduce the risk of some chronic diseases, like cancer,” says Heather R. Mangieri, MS, RD, owner of Nutrition CheckUp, LLC and a Spokesperson for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Aside from all those flavonoids and that massive dose of Vitamin C she's talking about, studies have also shown that these fiber-rich foods (especially grapefruit) might even control appetite and aid in weight loss. No doubt, that’s a powerful combination…especially for such a low-cal food
Citrus isn’t just available all year round, but it also tastes great in winter, when other fruits lack flavor. So when you’re at the grocery store, simply look for fruit that’s firm and heavy, with a bright and colorful skin—and avoid those that have bruising or wrinkling. Then, take those suckers home and test out these five recipes. They're just as simple as pouring a glass of OJ.
This homemade Orange-Banana Shorbet tates like a cross between sorbet and sherbet (hence the name) and makes for a perfect summertime treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups fresh squeezed orange juice (about 4-5 oranges)
- 2 oranges, cut into chunks
- 2 small bananas
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
Instructions:
- In medium saucepan, heat the freshly squeezed orange juice and the honey. Sprinkle the gelatin over he mixture. Cook it over low heat stirring constantly to dissolve the gelatin. Do not boil. Cool.
- In a food processor, add the oranges, banana and lemon juice and puree. Stir into cooled orange juice mixture. Pour into a shallow 8”x 8” baking pan and freeze until firm.
- Once the mixture is frozen, scoop and serve.