The Spooky Side of Citrus

October is upon us, and you know what that means...It's Spooky Season! What, might you inquire, does that have to do with citrus?  Surprisingly, a lot. Read on to discover how much Halloween and citrus fruits have in common!

Many Citrus Fruits are Colored Orange

Just as red and green are the colors we associate with Christmas, the two main Halloween colors are orange and black. Interestingly, the original colors for this time of year were first introduced in the early part of the twentieth century as yellow and brown, effectively evoking the earthy tones of the new Autumn. But with the rise of the ubiquitous pumpkin and classic Halloween icons like bats and cats, orange quickly took over the scene in partnership with black. Citrus covers it all: most fruits such as oranges and tangerines are orange, and grapefruits are yellow to orange in hue, ready to decorate your house and taste buds from spooky season to Thanksgiving and beyond!

Citrus is Good for Your Bones

As old Morty, above, can tell you: the older you get, the more you have to take care of your bones.  That's why he's pictured here with a bowlful of yummy oranges and very little candy. Many people think of milk, cheese, and leafy greens as a way to strengthen their bones due to their high calcium content. That's good, and while oranges and other citrus fruits aren't high in calcium, they provide the rest of the picture to make sure that the calcium you ingest is actually getting absorbed by your bones. The high Vitamin C content in citrus fruits is a critical nutrient for collagen production, which provides the framework for bones. It also increases calcium absorption significantly. Citrus is also rich in potassium, which neutralizes hyperacidity in the body. Research has shown that individuals who eat foods rich in Vitamin C and potassium have a higher bone density. Finally, there is a lesser known vitamin in citrus fruits called folate (Vitamin B9) a key player in bone marrow function that has also been shown to lower the risk of hip fractures. As such, citrus is a vital part of maintaining and improving bone density and function.

Grapefruit and Your Medications

Because Halloween is a fun time of the year, we want to keep things from actually getting scary by remembering to practice good safety protocols. When it comes to citrus, one thing to be aware of is that grapefruit is contraindicated with certain medications. This effect is due mainly to the fact that special compounds in grapefruits can interact with these medications and make them either less effective or too concentrated. The list of the main medications to be aware of is here, but also make sure to check with your doctor if you are taking any prescription medications to see if it would be all right to enjoy a juicy grapefruit often or just once in a while.

You Might Scare People 

While this healthy, happy little girl doesn't look scary, let's face it: most Americans follow the SAD diet, or "Standard American Diet." Unfortunately, it is an apt acronym. The tried and true adage "you are what you eat" is reflected in the generally poor health of most Americans. This "sad" reality is partially because healthy foods are harder to access and afford these days, and partially because many people have become addicted from an early age to sugary and processed foods, which only cause inflammation, fatigue, and disease. Additionally, many people are working too many hours each day and thus do not have a lot of time to plan, purchase, and prepare healthy meals at home.  Enter citrus--it's affordable, portable, and ready to eat anytime!  With a regular diet of healthy citrus fruits, you may glow with so much health that you might just scare people! Take heart, though: you'll "scare" them the right way as an inspiration for healthy habits.

Sources:

Halloween Colors and What They Mean

5 Reasons Oranges Boost Your Bone Strength Naturally - Healthier Up

14 Medications to Avoid Mixing With Grapefruit

Healthy Food and Eating: Americans' Priorities and Behaviors | Pew Research Center

In Memory of Dr. Jane Goodall

 

The beginning of citrus season this year coincided with the recent passing of ethologist, primate researcher, conservationist, and peacemaker Jane Goodall. She was 91 years young and died of natural causes.  One of the great secrets to her longevity came from her deep alliance with chimpanzees in their natural habitat, gleaning insights into their ability to thrive in the deep wilderness. The first "secret," of course, is no secret at all: we come from the wilderness, and nature immersion--even just simple time under a tree--is very, very, good for us. After spending years in the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania immersed in chimpanzee research, Jane Goodall spent much of the latter half of her life doing just the opposite: she traveled extensively, making speaking appearances on behalf of environmental conservation and world peace. In 2024, she told Reader's Digest: "A happy day for me is if I can be out in nature somewhere. If I go to a hotel and there's one tree, I will sometimes move my bed around so I can just be there and see the tree." In fact, she was on a speaking tour at the time of her death, and as of the date of this blog, she has an October 7 appearance posted on the Jane Goodall Institute's website.

The Healthy Eating Link

Nature immersion wasn't the only component contributing to Dr. Goodall's legacy.  She was also a staunch vegan and whole foods advocate, and citrus was a major part of her diet.  While the chimpanzees she lived with were omnivores and thus consumed some meat, she observed that fruit--and particularly oranges--were a major component of their daily food consumption. Second only to humans, chimpanzees are the longest-living primates, and their diets can give a clear insight into our own longevity strategy.

The Stress Connection

Dr. Goodall was also accomplished at managing her stress levels, even in the face of increasing environmental devastation and other threats to her beloved chimpanzees, other animals, and humanity.  She discovered that chimpanzees are subject to the same capacity for happiness and grief as we are. Environmental factors, encroachment, disease, and other stressors can seriously impact a chimp's health and longevity. Oranges are a huge ally here: their high Vitamin C content reduces the "stress hormone" cortisol, and the high folate and niacin concentrations found naturally in oranges function as mood-boosters.  Dehydration can also be a significant, under-acknowledged source of physiological stress; oranges and other citrus fruits are like little hydration-balls, packed with easily absorbable water in every delicious bite. It is no surprise, then, that oranges are a primary component of chimpanzee diets, and why Dr. Goodall likewise consumed them regularly.

The Happiness Link

While humans, chimpanzees, and all animals are subject to stress and mood depletion, nature gives us tools to overcome them and return to a baseline of general happiness.  One of these tools is oranges and most citrus fruits in general; this fact sheds yet another light on why both Dr. Goodall and her chimpanzee friends were so enthusiastic about eating oranges. Research has shown that eating citrus lowers the risk of depression because it stimulates the growth of a "good" gut bacterium called Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. These beneficial bacteria influence the production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine; both of these are well-known to be mood elevators. 

Sharing Is Caring

Finally, Dr. Goodall discovered that chimpanzees, just like humans, derive health and happiness from meaningful friendships and family bonds that use touch, meal sharing, and regular communication to foster connection. Sharing food is one of our most basic and powerful forms of expressing love. When we give, receive, and share healthy foods, we are expressing how much we care for and love being cared by each another.  

As we enter into a new year of citrus harvest, Florida Fruit Shippers wants to acknowledge with deep appreciation the work and legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall. We strive to continue to support the importance of her work by bringing you the benefits of citrus fruits directly from the trees. 

Sources:

About Jane - Jane Goodall Institute USA

Jane Goodall Dies at Age 91

Jane Goodall's Lifestyle Habits That Helped Her Live to 91 - Business Insider

Chimpanzee lifespan

Signs of Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Chimpanzees - PMC

Eating citrus may lower depression risk — Harvard Gazette