Are Clementines Healthy?

Are Clementines Healthy?
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Clementines are citrus fruits that are a cross between a sweet orange and a Chinese mandarin orange. This variety of citrus is small, contains no seeds and is easy to peel. All fruits are a nutritious addition to your diet and clementines are no different. Clementines supply several nutrients that help promote good health and make them a nutritious addition to your diet. Learning more about what they offer will prove just how healthy they are.

Potassium

Most fruits contain some potassium, but clementines have a large amount of this important nutrient for its small size. Potassium is a nutrient that promotes proper contraction of your muscles and the function of your nerves. This mineral is also important for maintaining a healthy blood pressure. A potassium deficiency can cause muscle cramping, nausea, fatigue and abnormal heart rhythm. Clementines supply 400 mg, or 11 percent, of the approximately 3,600 mg of potassium your body needs each day.

Vitamin C

Just like other citrus fruits, clementines supply a healthy amount of vitamin C. Your body needs sufficient doses of vitamin C in order to promote the health of your skin, bones, muscles and blood vessels. Vitamin C may also reduce your risk of illness and infection. One clementine orange supplies 145 percent of the vitamin C you need each day, which makes it one of the best citrus sources of this important vitamin.

Fiber

You have likely heard the recommendation that you eat more fiber, and adding fruits and vegetables to your diet is a nutritious way to accomplish this goal. You need to eat plenty of fiber-rich foods each day in order to encourage healthy digestion. Fiber may also reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. One clementine orange provides about 2 g of fiber, or about 8 percent of your daily requirements.

Iron

The small size of a clementine may lead you to believe that you need to eat several in order to reap their nutritional benefits, but just one small clementine orange supplies 1 percent of your daily iron needs. You need plenty of iron in your diet in order to get enough oxygen circulating throughout your body, as well as for the health of your red blood cells. Adding one or two clementine oranges to your daily diet can help you get what you need for good health.

References

Article reviewed by David Bill Last updated on: Feb 22, 2011

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