Small, nice and perfectly portable, clementines they are naturally a great snack. In addition, they have a superpower that you should know about.
Often marketed as Cuties, clementines are the bright orange citrus that’s easily a parent’s best friend. They are so easy to peel that even the smallest hands can easily handle them. The lack of seeds is also a big plus!
While clementines are the perfect snack for kids, experts say you’ll also want to eat this little superfruit, especially if you want to support your immune system.
Alone a small clementine has 36.1 milligrams, or 40 percent of the daily value (DV) for vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient when it comes to immune support. This vitamin stimulates B and T cells to form lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that helps fight bacteria and viruses in the body. If you’re not eating enough vitamin C, your body has a hard time fighting infections.
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“While you can get vitamin C from supplements, fruits (particularly citrus) may have an added advantage over most supplements,” says Sharon Puello MA, RD, CDN, CDCES, owner of FRESH Nutrition PLLC.
Several animal studies have found that vitamin C from food is more easily absorbed and utilized than synthetic supplementsAccording to a 2013 review published in nutrients. The review notes that more human studies are needed to see if the same effect occurs in people.
The advantage of citrus over supplements could be related to the variety of antioxidants and plant chemicals found in clementines and other citrus fruits. The combination of nutrients and antioxidants found in whole fruits cannot be replicated in supplements.
Plus, clementines are a quick and tasty way to lower stress levels, which is essential for keeping your immune system in tip-top shape. chronic stress it decreases the number of lymphocytes in the body, which puts you at higher risk of getting a bug and getting sick.
“The combination of vitamin C and bioflavonoids in clementines may help your body better handle stress by speeding up the removal of cortisol, one of the main stress hormones, from your body,” says Puello.
Keeping your immune system in tip-top shape might be the only reason you need to eat a clementine or two a day, but they’re also a great source of fiber. Alone a small clementine has 1.3 grams of fiberwhich can help control blood sugar, cholesterol and keep your digestive system healthy.
Related: The only drink to sip to boost your immunity, dietitian says
