Hesperidin and Other Citrus Flavonoids - Your Cancer Fighters
Issue #009
Welcome to the 9th issue of Discover The Power of Healing Foods! newsletter. You can read the
entire issue on line by clicking here.
So far we've discussed several flavonoid
antioxidants
as well as some carotenoids and their amazing
health properties. (Click on the links if you've missed those issues and you want to catch up.)
In this issue we will discuss:
When you think of the health properties of an orange, you usually think of its vitamin C content, don't you?
Well, there's much more to oranges than that, as you will find out in this newsletter.
You might have heard of citrus flavonoids, but how about hesperidin? Perhaps you've heard of naringen?
You might not have heard of them but you surely ate them when you had your last orange or any of the
citrus fruit, for that matter.
Hesperidin and naringen are the two prominent members of this family. Lemons and oranges
are the most common sources of hesperidin and naringen is found in grapefruit.
Hesperidin is perhaps the most important citrus flavonoid in oranges and one of the most powerful
cancer fighters available.
Recent research studies focusing on hesperidin and a related compound, hesperetin - both found in
orange juice - have found them to be potent cancer fighter. Several animal studies with these compounds
have shown that they can prevent the development of cancers of the breast and colon.
Scientists at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Florida found that hesperetin inhibited
production of enzymes that transform toxins such as pesticides and cigarette smoke into cancer-causing
agents called carcinogens.
Unlike modern cancer drugs, which can often be worse than the disease, hesperidin has some very positive
'side-effects'.
For example, Japanese researchers found that hesperidin prevented bone loss in an animal model of
menopause. Hesperidin was also associated with increased bone absorption of strengthening minerals, such
as calcium, zinc and phosphorus.
In laboratory studies, Brazilian researchers found that hesperidin was able to help stop
inflammation. And since it doesn't damage the delicate stomach lining the way aspirin can, it could
be used someday to help relieve swelling in people who are sensitive to other anti-inflammatory drugs such
as ibuprofen.
When Australian scientists analyzed the data from almost fifty international studies on the health
benefits of citrus fruits, they found plenty of reasons to include oranges, grapefruit and tangerines in
the daily diet.
For example:
- There is solid evidence that obesity, diabetes and heart disease can be reduced with
daily citrus consumption.
- The likelihood of having a stroke declines by close to 20% among people who eat five daily
servings of fruit and vegetables plus one extra citrus fruit.
- Stomach, larynx, mouth and esophageal cancer rates plummet by as much as 50% among people who
eat the most citrus fruits.
Hesperidin is not the only powerful flavonoid in oranges. In fact, there are quite a few different citrus
flavonoids. Analyses of orange juice have shown that it contains as many as sixty such compounds!
We've already mentioned naringen, abundant in grapefruit. In a recent Brazilian study, naringen,
performed well as a cholesterol-lowering agent.
A related compound known as naringenin is gaining renown for its role in brain health. British
researchers found that naringenin (and hesperetin) were the most effective flavonoids tested at crossing
the blood-brain barrier.
An animal study from Korea noted that naringenin inhibited the development of Alzheimer's disease.
In addition, naringenin also provided significant protection for the brain from a chemical that induces
amnesia.
And yet another animal study from Korea found that two forms of naringen were able to prevent the
formation of lesions in blood vessels that contribute to hardening of the arteries and heart
disease.
These are only a few of the many health-promoting flavonoids found in citrus.
Science is only beginning to explore the health potential of some of the lesser-known citrus flavonoids.
For example, limonin and nomilin, members of the limonoid group of citrus flavonoids, have
been shown to prevent the duplication of the human immune deficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) in human blood cells.
Other citrus flavonoids, such as limonene, luteolin and diosmin - all found in lemons and
oranges - have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer in various ways.
Tangeretin, a related compound from tangerines, as well as lemons, grapefruits and oranges, not
only fights cancer by reducing the growth of tumor cells, but also supports the part of the brain involved
in Parkinson's disease.
Nobiletin, found in the flesh of tangerines and oranges, minimizes production of an
inflammation-stimulating substance, and appears to slow the progression of joint damage related to
osteoarthritis.
Of course, flavonoids can't take all the credit for the amazing health benefits of oranges. Citrus fruits
are filled with other antioxidants and fiber, too, plus there are undoubtedly other substances in these
foods that have yet to be discovered.
Most people tend to eat just the pulp or drink the juice of oranges and discard the rest, but we now know
that the concentration of hesperidin is considerably higher in the inner white pulp of the orange, rather
than in its orange flesh.
But even squeezing lemon or lime wedges into water or tea is likely to provide some flavonoids, and a
daily glass of orange juice is a good start.
But you don't want to go overboard with it. Juice is very high in sugar and low in fiber, plus the
commercial varieties have very little vitamin C and flavonoids in them and much of these compounds are
oxidized, so the body can't absorb them well.
Undoubtedly, the best way to get plenty of these nutrients is to eat a variety of citrus fruit and to
eat the whole fruit whenever possible.
Simple Tip:
Eat the orange with some of the pith (the spongy white layer between the zest
and the pulp). A good amount of the fruit's fiber and antioxidant compounds are found there, although
it may cause flatulence to some people.
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If you want to have other tips and suggestions on how to make the most of the amazing properties of oranges read
my page on the benefits of oranges.
Antioxidant Supplements
If you feel that you need to supplement your antioxidant intake have a look at these supplements:
Replete 2
from Cytoplan
Oxycell from Nutrigold
Coming Next...
I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. Next time, I'd like to discuss another important group of
flavonoids, phytoestrogens and how they can be of be of benefit to everybody.
If you have any questions on phytoestrogens, well, this is your chance to ask them, and I'll try and answer them
in my next newsletter.
Until Next Time
Aurora Raisbeck
Go to Foods' Healing Power Homepage
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