Posted on 02/26/2025 9:28:20 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Eating an orange a day may lower a person's depression risk by 20%, according to a study. That might be because citrus stimulates the growth of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii), a type of bacteria found in the human gut, to influence production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine—two biological molecules known to elevate mood.
We found that eating one medium orange a day may lower the risk of developing depression by about 20%. And the effect seems to be specific to citrus. When we look at people's total fruit or vegetable consumption, or at other individual fruits such as apples or bananas, we don't see any relationship between intake and risk of depression.
One unique part of the study is that a subset of participants in the NHS2 gave researchers several samples of their stool over the course of a year. Using DNA sequencing results from these stool samples, we looked for links between citrus intake and particular species of bacteria in the gut microbiome.
One species of bacteria stood out—F. prausnitzii was more abundant in people who were not depressed than people who were, and consuming a lot of citrus was also associated with high levels of F. prausnitzii. So we think this bacterium may link citrus consumption with good mental health.
So then the question became, how is F. prausnitzii making people feel better? One answer, we think, might be that these bacteria use a metabolic pathway known as the S-adenosyl-L-methionine cycle I pathway to influence levels of two neurotransmitters—serotonin and dopamine—produced by human cells in the gut. These neurotransmitters regulate how food passes through the digestive tract, but they can also travel to the brain, where they elevate mood.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Eating one orange a day reduces depression risk by 20%.
Șo five oranges per day will make you the happiest person alive?
What about pure orange juice?
Wow....I have a huge tree and right now I’m eating one orange a day. .
Guess there’s no need to be depressed.😆
It’a “Cutie” season now (mandarins, clementines, tangerines) and I’m having one or two a day. Easy to peel, seedless, and taste great.
Want to reduce sugar?? naw....enjoy...you only live once.
Will a Tangerine work? I enjoy them more than Oranges.
Cara Cara oranges are not genetically engineered. They are a natural mutation of the Washington navel orange, first discovered in Venezuela in the 1970s. Their unique pinkish-red flesh comes from the presence of lycopene, a natural antioxidant, not genetic modification. They are propagated through traditional grafting methods rather than genetic engineering.
Overall, Cara Cara oranges do not have significant nutritional deficiencies compared to navel oranges. Instead, they offer a slightly different antioxidant profile, favoring lycopene over beta-carotene. They contain more vitamin A than regular navels, which is beneficial for eye health and immunity. While they have more lycopene, they contain less beta-carotene than traditional navel oranges, which is another form of vitamin A precursor.
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, watermelons, pink grapefruits, and Cara Cara oranges.
Health Benefits of Lycopene
I’ve always thought that tangerines were just bigger mandarins. And that they’re all oranges.
No wonder I’m in a good mood... I juiced and consumed 4 oranges today.
How about TANG? It was good enough for the astronauts!
Too much sugar.
So, I’ll just take my Prozac with a glass of orange juice.
How about orange marmalade smeared on waffles?
It’a “Cutie” season now (mandarins, clementines, tangerines) and I’m having one or two a day. Easy to peel, seedless, and taste great.
Same here. And Kroger has had cuties on sale for the past few weeks. I’ve been buying a bag a week because hubby and I eat 3 or 4 per day. They are a great little snack for mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
What about vitamin C in pill form?
Vitamin C was not what helped.
Oranges: the next huge price rise as the Deep State comes for your oranges.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.