THE VALUE OF CITRUS FRUIT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6812, 16 January 1929, Page 11

THE VALUE OF CITRUS FRUIT

One of the most important discoveries of recent years with regard to diet is the value of citrus fruit. Oranges and lemons have long been popular, but until a few years ago we did not realise how valuable they were for health. These fruits are very old. The lemon is thought to be of Persian origin, and the orange comes from China. One of the early uses of lemon was to keep moths from clothing, or to guard against snake-bite; and carried whole iu the pocket is thought to afford protection from colds and kindred distempers. When wc take the juice of oranges or lemons it neutralises acids in the system. This neutralisation of our food residues by a balance of acid or alkali-forming foods tends to relieve constipation and kindred ailments, and in some cases affords relief from rheumatic conditions. The alkaline residue of these citrus fruits is composed of salts of potash, lime, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and silica. Thus the practice of serving lemon with fish and meats has a real use. These fruit salts supply ,not only the blood itself, but also tho various tissues, with their vital organic minerals. Citrus fruits contain that valuable vitamin C, which must be considered a perfect diet. Without it our food will not do us much good. Scurvy, which at one time troubled sailors and other people, has now almost disappeared owing to th 6 habit of taking fresh fruit and vegetables. A spoonful of orange juice every day is given to all babies brought up in a modern way,. and women who study their health and looks must know they must take oranges in some form or other every day.