Citrus fruits and vegetables are one of the major horticultural produce around the world. They carry a high vitamin C content along with potassium, flavonoids, fiber and folic acid. Citrus fruits and vegetables are consumed around the world mainly in the form of juices. These can be mixed with other fruits and vegetables or even eaten raw.
Citrus fruits are not limited to just oranges and lemons. There is a whole variety of them. We have listed top 10 citrus fruits and top 10 citrus vegetables along with their benefits for you making ultimately it informative so that you can add these bright, juicy and nutritious produce in your diet.
Top 10 citrus fruits
Citrus fruits are of various types. The top 10 variants of citrus fruit are listed below:
Oranges
Oranges top the list of citrus fruits. But there is not just one kind of orange, the other four types of oranges are Valencia orange, blood orange, navel orange and Jaffa orange. Oranges are bright, tangy, sweet and juicy and are easily available everywhere.
Tangerine
Tangerines are another type of citrus fruits that are similar to oranges but much sweeter than them. The pulp is used to prepare beverages whereas the peel is used in chocolates.
Lemon
Lemons are large-sized than limes and bright yellow in colour. Lemons are added to prepare most of our favourite drinks. They come with high citric acid utilising them as cleaning products. Lemons are also added to organic face masks for lightening dark spots and marks on the skin.
Grapefruit
Grapefruits are attractive looking sweet-sour fruits. One of the healthiest in the list of citrus fruits, they help in weight loss and keep the heart-healthy.
Pomelo
Pomelos represent the shape of a pear. They are large and come with white or pink pulp. The white ones are sweet whereas the pink ones are sour. 6. Lime
Lime are green-yellow coloured lemons but smaller than the regular ones. This fruit prepares the famous key lime pie that we eat!
Mandarin oranges
Mandarin oranges are smaller and sweeter than regular oranges. An interesting fact about mandarin oranges is that it is used to prepare medicines in china and ayurvedic elements in India in ancient times.
Citron
Citrons are large, fragrant plants that grow as a shrub. They have a yellow colour and a bumpy texture. These fruits have a very dry pulp and very few seeds. They are mostly used to prepare jams.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are high constituents of citric acid. They are antioxidants and provide benefits to the heart and brain. Tomatoes and cherry tomatoes are eaten in various forms like soups, juices and salads.
Gooseberry
Gooseberries are rich in antioxidants and citric acid. They come in white, yellow or green colours and can be eaten as a pickle or a jam.
List of citrus vegetables
Some of the vegetables listed may not have acidic content in them. However, they are rich in vitamin C, folate, phosphorus, magnesium and other nutrients.
Broccoli
Broccoli comes with various health benefits containing vitamin C, proteins, fibers and potassium. Can be sauteed with spices or eaten in salads.
Potato
Did you know that potatoes are stacked with vitamin C, potassium and vitamin B6? Potatoes are eaten in various forms and are a part of our regular diet.
Bell peppers
An interesting fact about green bell peppers is that it consists of twice the amount of vitamin C than most citrus fruits! Found in yellow, red, green colours, bell peppers are delicious when added to any dish.
Asparagus
Asparagus is an immunity boosting vegetables with a good amount of vitamin C and antioxidants. It can be tossed in lemon and spices to make a delicious meal.
Kale
Kale has numerous benefits owing to its rich content of vitamin C and vitamin K. Kale can be consumed in the form of a juice, a sauce or with other delicious veggies.
Cabbage
Cabbages are a great source of vitamin C, folate, potassium and magnesium. Found as red (purple) or as white cabbage. It is filled with benefits like weight loss, keeping the heart in good shape and avoiding the risk of diabetes.
Artichokes
Artichokes are the bud of the flower and are amazing vegetables loaded with vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, fiber and phosphorus. They are rich in antioxidants and helps in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.
Jalapeños
Jalapeños are a popular kind of chilli mostly found in Mexican food. They constitute a high amount of vitamin C and promote weight loss due to the low- calorie content in it. You can top it on any kind of food you like to enhance its taste.
Ginger
Ginger is a good citrus vegetable consisting of vitamin C, phosphorus and beta- carotene. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and is an effective remedy for cold and cough. A small quantity of ginger can be added in your diet every day.
Onion
Onions consist of natural acids, one of them being citric acid. Onions are low- calorie vegetables with a lot of health advantages. Some of them are improving the digestive system and avoiding the risk of various cancers.
Frequently Ask Questions:
✅ Is pineapple a citrus fruit?
No. pineapples are similar to citrus fruits because of their sweet-sour, tangy and juicy pulp but they are different from citrus fruits. Pineapples are tropical fruits and their juicy content comes from the high amount of vitamin C, not citric acid which is found in lemons and oranges. Both citric and tropical fruits have a natural content of ascorbic and citric acid. However, pineapple is mostly linked with berries.
✅ Is mango a citrus fruit?
No. mango is not a citrus fruit. Although both mangoes and citrus fruits are grown in the same warm climate, they belong to different kinds of botanical families. Mangoes are also tropical fruits. Mangoes are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber. Mango has just one seed and loose skin with a thick pulp. The flavour of mangoes can range from sweet to sour depending on the seasonal. Raw mangoes are used to make pickles and sauces. They are rich in vitamin E and vitamin C.
✅ Is banana a citrus fruit?
No. bananas are not a citrus fruit. Bananas have no acidic content in them making them very different from citrus fruits. Bananas are an instant source of energy and have high nutritional amounts of carbohydrates and fibers. Even though bananas have high-calorie content, they have the ability to keep one full for a long time. Bananas can be eaten raw or churned into a delicious milkshake.
✅ Is Apple a citrus fruit? Â
No. Apples are not citrus fruits but they are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Both Apple and citrus fruits are somewhat juicy and contain seeds; however, the pulp of apples is not loose and juicy; rather, it is hard and solid. Apples do not contain ascorbic or citric acid this makes them different from citrus fruits.
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I am Kate, a dedicated health advocate. My purpose is to educate you regarding the most current wellness trends, offer science-backed insights to enhance your understanding, and present actionable tips to support you on your journey towards a healthier and happier life. Let us commence this wellness path together!