Eating an orange a day could reduce the risk of dementia by 23%, study reveals

Photo credit: Antonio Krämer / EyeEm / Getty
Photo credit: Antonio Krämer / EyeEm / Getty

From Prima

Not only are oranges refreshing and delicious, and an excellent source of vitamin C, they have now been found to have specific medical benefits.

A key new study by Tohuku University in Japan has found that eating one orange a day can cut the risk of dementia by a quarter, Mail Online reports.

The team of scientists behind the report discovered that citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits can all reduce the risk of developing the disorder, which affects memory, personality and reasoning. They can help prevent the brain damage that results in dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

The reason for the wonderful effect of these fruits is their citric acid containing the chemical nobiletin, which has been shown to slow or reverse memory deterioration in previous studies.

© Getty Jose A. Bernat Bacete

Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the study followed more than 13,000 middle-aged or elderly men and women over the course of up to seven years. Those who ate citrus fruits every day were 23% less likely to develop dementia than the participants who ate the tangy fruits less than twice a week.

'Some biological studies have indicated citrus may have preventive effects against cognitive impairment,' the study's scientists stated.

'But no study has examined the relation between citrus consumption and rates of dementia. Our findings suggest frequent consumption is linked with a lower risk of dementia.'

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