Oranges and other citrus fruit are so beautiful and delicious,
it’s no wonder they’ve traveled the globe and become popular just about everywhere.
As we’ve seen elsewhere on this blog, citrus is meaningful in religion and in
art, and it is included in delicious dishes in cuisines worldwide. After all, we’ve
been enjoying oranges, tangerines, grapefruit and other citrus since the 1500s!
With all these uses, and such a long history, it’s no wonder
that some myths have “grown up” around oranges and citrus over time. You might
even believe a few yourself. Today, we’ll test your knowledge of citrus truths
and myths. How many will surprise you?
Myth or fact: You can tell whether an orange is ripe by how orange it is.
Myth. The orange color of…oranges (and other citrus)
is actually caused by cool temperatures, not by fruit becoming ripe. In fact,
in warmer areas, citrus may become fully mature without turning orange at all!
Myth or fact: Grapefruit is better for you than other citrus.
Answer:
Myth. Grapefruits do have this reputation, but they probably aren't better for you than other citrus. Though they have
a few less calories, the difference really isn’t significant. They have a bit less
vitamin C than other citrus, though they pack more vitamin A. Enjoy the citrus
you prefer!
Myth or fact: Oranges are native to Florida.
Answer:
Myth! As much as we Floridians might like to claim oranges
as our own, they are believed to have originated in Asia (though, honestly, nobody is quite sure about this). Citrus was first brought to Florida by Spaniards in the 1500s, and, well, the rest is history.
Myth or fact: Citrus fights colds.
Answer:
Mixture. Science tells us that vitamin C may be
slightly helpful in fighting colds or decreasing their length a bit. The effect
isn’t dramatic, but upping your citrus consumption can’t hurt!
Myth or fact: British sailors are called “limeys” because of all the limes they ate.
Answer:
Fact. I didn’t know this until I researched the long and strange history of scurvy, otherwise known as vitamin C deficiency. Today, vitamin C deficiency is fortunately very rare (thanks to our relatively healthy diets). But back in the bad old days, millions of sailors died due to the very restricted diets they ate at sea. When the “cure” was finally discovered, bottled lime juice was kept on board to head off the illness. Hence, “limeys.”
Myth or fact: Citrus might help you live longer.
Answer:
Fact! Scientists have found that people who regularly include citrus like oranges, grapefruit, and tangerines in their diet are less likely to get cancer. This may be because of the vitamin C. Or it could be due to other compounds found in citrus, such as antioxidants.
Myth or fact: Grapefruit helps you lose weight.
Answer:
Mixture. The so-called grapefruit diet dates back to the 1930s. Followers are supposed to eat half a grapefruit and/or drink a glass of grapefruit juice with every meal. Meanwhile, fat will “melt away.”
Scientists have yet to find any magical “fat burning”
ingredient in these delicious citrus fruits. However, in a 12-week study
published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, people who ate grapefruit or drank
grapefruit juice several times a day did lose an average of about 3 pounds,
with some participants losing much more. It’s possible that grapefruit’s high
water and fiber content may make people feel full, causing them to eat less at
meals.
Myth or fact: The “navel” on a navel orange is another baby orange.
Answer:
Fact! The sweet navel orange that we all enjoy has a tiny underdeveloped “twin” orange at the end of each fruit. That’s not on purpose; it’s just the way the variety, a spontaneous mutation, appeared in the wild. Because the navel is seedless, it has to be propagated through grafting.
