Citrus Fruits: Nutritive Value and Value-Added Products

Abstract

Citrus fruits are essential sources of food and energy and play a critical role in supplementing healthy diets. Citrus fruits contain mostly carbohydrates such as sucrose, glucose, and fructose and are good dietary fiber sources, which help prevent gastrointestinal disease and promote high circulating cholesterol. Besides, citrus fruits are also significant sources of vitamin C and various bioactive compounds. It is suggested that these components are of vital importance in improving human health due to their antioxidant properties and being converted to vitamin A. However, citrus fruit is still being used for different purposes like juice, jam, jelly, squash, pies, cake, candies, marmalades, etc. Most citrus waste materials are currently used as animal feed. Innovations are occurring in the conversion of citrus by-products into valuable commodities with the development of innovative technologies. This chapter has put up primary and secondary research findings of citrus fruits, especially lemon and pomelo, their chemical properties, composition, and their use in health and cosmetic needs.