According to a recent report in "The Japan Agricultural News," eating citrus fruits can help prevent cancer, and the sweeter they are, the better the anti-cancer effect. Research indicates that citrus fruits contain a large amount of β-cryptoxanthin, which is responsible for their anti-cancer properties. The anti-cancer effect of β-cryptoxanthin in citrus is five times stronger than that of β-carotene found in carrots. Furthermore, naringin, found in the peel of fruits like oranges and pomelos, also has a significant anti-cancer effect.
Scientists have also found that the higher the sugar content in a citrus fruit, the more β-cryptoxanthin it contains, and thus the better its anti-cancer effect. Moreover, the content of β-cryptoxanthin does not change after the citrus fruit has been dried and stored. An ordinary person can achieve a good anti-cancer effect by eating two sweet citrus fruits a day. Generally, citrus fruits that are flatter in shape, have fine and dense small bumps on their peel, and are darker in color are sweeter. Conversely, if these bumps are uneven and the peel feels rough, the fruit will be bland and its anti-cancer effect will be poor.