We looked into what makes citrus fruits great, aside from how tasty and colourful they are!

We all know citrus fruits are  full of vitamin C, but they also have an impressive list of other nutrients that benefit your health, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Plus, they have no fat, sodium or cholesterol! Read on to find how eating more oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit can improve your health.

1. They fight weight gain
For a long time, experts believed grapefruit might help weight loss, but we didn't have proof—until now. In a recent study by the Scripps Clinic Nutrition and Metabolic Research Centre in San Diego, grapefruit promoted weight reduction in their test subjects. The responsible nutrients, called flavonoids, can be found in oranges, too. They help prevent obesity and are linked to protecting against type two diabetes. 

2. They help your skin look great
Lemons and limes have disinfectant and cleaning properties, and they can also work on your skin. A report from the Nutrition Journal, written by Stanley S. Shapiro, PhD, outlines the role of vitamins from citrus fruits like these ones in skin care. The juice from these citrus fruits helps rejuvenate your skin, keeping it dewy, and protecting it from infections. The nutrients in citrus fruits also produce collagen, which gives your skin elasticity.

3. Citrus delivers an antioxidant boost
The National Cancer Institute outlines the link between antioxidants and cancer prevention because antioxidants, such as vitamin C, help fight inflammation. They can help your body kill cancer cells, protect against invasive cancer, and battle germs.

4. They fight off illness
There's a reason flu-fighting medicine often comes in citrus flavours—citrus can protect you against flu-like symptoms and germs. And if you already have a bug, not too late! They also have fever-reducing qualities, naturally lowering your body temperature. 

5. They help your body absorb iron
Having low iron is a very most common nutritional deficiency. While citrus fruits don’t necessarily contain high levels of iron, they help your body take in the iron in other foods more efficiently. According to Medical News Today, pairing high-iron foods with vitamin C, like adding a lemon-based juice or sauce to spinach salads or red meat, will maximize your iron-absorbing abilities.

Here are some tasty recipes full of flavour and vitamin C:

Roasted Lemon-Herb Cornish Hens
Orange Quinoa Salad
Grapefruit and Fennel Salad
Melon with Citrus Blueberry Sauce
Citrus and Herb Rib Roast