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 ...
As a diabetic I’d be more concerned with what that would do to my A1C.
CC
Without having read the study on this one, I would think a light juicing of the orange, then eating the pulp and other fibers left would give one the benefit.
So, because this seems to be a prebiotic substance at work, you could possibly do well to discard the juice.
Yep, love those little oranges!
Most people think of orange juice as the pasteurized kind. The pasteurization process probably changes the juice enough to not be beneficial in this way.
Personally, for me, it’s freshly squeezed unpasteurized orange juice or nothing. I admit to being an orange juice snob. It’s how I grew up. We used the juicer every single day.
The other stuff tastes awful to me.
There’s a brand called Natalie’s fresh squeezed orange juice, but it’s still pasteurized. So it’s a no go for me.
Will a Tangerine work? I enjoy them more than Oranges
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If you enjoy them, your body is telling you they’re better for you.
I’ve always thought that tangerines were just bigger mandarins.
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Tangerines are easier to peel.
We always bought tangerines when I was a kid...like you say... they’re easy to peel. At 80...it’s easier for me to open a can of mandarins...and have for a couple days.
How many millions did this cost taxpayers?
Ate them like candy as a kid.
“Șo five oranges per day will make you the happiest person alive?”
Of course not as happy as one who eats more than five oranges a day.
Thanks - I made the comment because citrus has always been used as a “great source of vitamin C”....
Remember when Linus Pauling made vitamin C a household deal in the 70s - saying it could stop colds, prevent cancer and do a lot of other good things; and TV Ads showed some folks eating spoonfuls of powdered ascorbic acid?
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