Tangerine (Credit: Canva)
Tangerines is a citrus fruit that is orange in color and is considered either a variety of mandarin orange or a closely related species. It is the second most cultivated citrus fruit after oranges. While they are primarily orange in color, some varieties of tangerines may have shades of green or red. However, they’re a bit smaller and less round and are easier to peel by hand. They are also sweeter to taste than oranges.
Here's a look at nine impressive health benefits of tangerines:
1. Packed with Nutrients
Despite their size, tangerines are rich in water and nutrients, including vitamin C, beta-cryptoxanthin (an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A), potassium, and B-complex vitamins. These elements contribute significantly to their health benefits.
2. Rich in Antioxidants
Tangerines and their peels are loaded with antioxidants like vitamin C and flavonoids, such as naringin and hesperidin. These compounds help combat oxidative stress, which is linked to chronic diseases like heart conditions, arthritis, and cancer.
3. Boost Immunity
Vitamin C strengthens the immune system by supporting T cells and phagocytes, which help fight infections. It may also reduce the severity of colds and allergic reactions, aided by antioxidants in the peel.
4. Supports Brain Health
Antioxidants like nobiletin and vitamin C in tangerines may protect brain cells from damage associated with disorders like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. However, more human studies are needed to confirm these findings.
5. Improves Skin Appearance
Vitamin C in tangerines promotes collagen production, aiding wound healing and reducing aging signs like wrinkles. Its antioxidant properties further protect against skin damage.
6. Weight-Loss-Friendly
Rich in fiber, tangerines enhance satiety, regulate appetite, and may prevent fat accumulation. This makes them a helpful addition to weight-loss diets.
7. Heart Health Benefits
Antioxidants like tangeretin and nobiletin may reduce risk factors for heart disease by improving blood vessel function, reducing cholesterol, and preventing plaque buildup in arteries.
8. Potential Anticancer Properties
Vitamin C and flavonoids in tangerines show promise in fighting certain cancers, though more research is required to confirm their effects when consumed naturally.
9. Versatile and Convenient
Tangerines are easy to enjoy raw, in salads, juices, yoghurts, or as garnishes. They don’t require refrigeration unless peeled.
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Been wondering if your child has been consuming too much or too little water each day?
According to Dr Keerti Kulkarni, a Telangana-based pediatrician, toddlers should be consuming about 100ml per kg of water every day, school children should drink up to 90ml per kg and teenagers should take in up to 60ml per kg.
In a lengthy Instagram post, she noted that about 20 percent of their daily required water intake comes from food includng fruits, vegetables, soups and parents should be mindful not to provide children with excess water.
Dr Kulkarani also said that there are exceptions for underweight children who have any other medical issues, such as kidney problems or if they are on any regular medication.
The expert warned: "Breastfed or formula-fed babies do not need extra water before solid foods and giving extra water to young infants can be dangerous and may cause low sodium levels."
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, impairing normal function. In children, signs include:
Drinking excessive water can lead to water intoxication, causing symptoms like confusion, nausea, and seizures; severe cases may be fatal. Water intoxication, also termed hyperhydration, water poisoning or water toxaemia, develops when an individual drinks much more water than the kidneys can excrete.
The main function of the kidneys in the human body is the processing and excretion of excess water. However, the human kidneys can process only up to 0.8 to 1.0L of water at a time. Drinking an amount that exceeds this may overwhelm the kidneys and put the electrolyte balance out of sync in the human body.
Electrolytes, especially sodium, are essential in maintaining fluid balance within and outside cells. Hyponatremia is a condition in which sodium levels fall below 135 mmol/L, resulting from excessive water intake. This causes water to shift into cells, swelling them. In the brain, this can cause severe complications, including coma or even death.
Symptoms of water intoxication vary from mild to severe. Early symptoms are often similar to dehydration, which makes self-diagnosis challenging. Common symptoms include:
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Eating omega-3-rich foods can reduce your aggression levels by 28 percent, an Aggression and Violent Behavior study suggests.
After analyzing 29 randomized controlled trials involving 3,918 participants in total, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania concluded that the fish oil supplement can reduce both reactive anger (in response to provocation) and proactive anger (behavior planned in advance) in people regardless of age, gender, medical diagnosis and length and dosage of treatment.
Neurocriminologist Dr Adrian Raine said of the results: "I think the time has come to implement omega-3 supplementation to reduce aggression, irrespective of whether the setting is the community, the clinic, or the criminal justice system.
"At the very least, parents seeking treatment for an aggressive child should know that in addition to any other treatment that their child receives, an extra portion or two of fish each week could also help."
The scientists theorized that omega-3 can reduce brain inflammation and regulate vital brain functioning which helps maintain aggression levels. However, they also noted that further research was needed to understand the link.
"Omega-3 is not a magic bullet that is going to completely solve the problem of violence in society. But can it help? Based on these findings, we firmly believe it can, and we should start to act on the new knowledge we have." Dr Raine said.
These omega-3s play a critical role in human development, and they are primarily found in fatty fish and fish oil. Since many people do not consume enough fish, supplementation is often recommended to ensure adequate intake of these essential fatty acids.
Although the body can convert another type of omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), into EPA and DHA, this process is not highly efficient. As a result, fish oil supplements may provide a convenient way to ensure optimal levels of omega-3s.
READ MORE: NHS Doctor Says This Oil Instead of Cod Liver Is The Best Omega-3 Source
Some popular sources of Omega-3 include:
EPA and DHA are essential for maintaining brain function throughout life. These fatty acids are abundant in the brain's cell membranes, helping to preserve cell health and facilitate communication between brain cells.
Research has shown that a lack of omega-3 can lead to cognitive impairments. In animal studies, diets deficient in omega-3s resulted in reduced DHA levels in the brain, leading to deficits in learning and memory. In older adults, lower DHA levels have been linked to a smaller brain size, which may indicate accelerated brain ageing.
Maintaining sufficient levels of omega-3s can help support cognitive function and may reduce the risk of age-related brain decline.
The optimal dosage varies, but research suggests that 1,000–2,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil daily is a good starting point. People with depression should look for supplements with higher EPA content. It is pertinent to note that people should consult health experts before starting fish oil supplementation.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a surprising tax reduction for India's fishers and marine industry, and experts say it is good news for you too.
Until now, fish caught by Indian vessels beyond territorial waters and brought back to the country for mass consumption has been treated as import, attracting customs duties and integrated goods and services tax (GST).
The combined tax burden raises costs and compliance issues, which discouraged people from deep-sea and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) fishing as well as
However, during her Union Budget 2026 presentation, Sitharaman proposed that fish caught in the EEZ and high seas by Indian fishing vessels are treated as duty-free when brought into Indian ports and treated as exports when landed at foreign ports.
This means that the market availability for Omega-3 packed fishes including salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring and sardines will significantly increase as their existing steep prices see a tremendous fall.
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Bird Flu In India: Amid bird flu fears from Bihar's Bhagalpur district in Naugacha, where over 150 crows were found dead, new concerns are being raised around poultry products. Chennai too is facing a high bird flu alert, there too, dead crows were found. This is why it is important to know how to consume poultry safely and what all to keep in mind while handling poultry.
While there is no confirmation yet in if it has spread in chicken, India has seen previous cases of avian flu in chicken. Here's what you should know about consuming poultry.
Pasteurization and cooking them at high temperatures can curb the threat. It is also important to handle your poultry products when you are buying and storing them.
Also, avoid drinking raw milk to kill avian influenza A(H5N1).
The meat juice can spill over and contaminate other food items, therefore it is extremely important to store it properly, in a way that it does not contaminate another food item. Always store it in a cool bag when you are transporting it and refrigerate and freeze the meat for the first two hours of buying.
You must also cook your chicken so the viruses do not survive on the chicken.
Read: How To Eat Eggs Safely?
Yes, chicken and eggs are still safe to consume, as long as they are thoroughly cooked. Cooking chicken to the internal temperature of at least 165°F kills bacteria, viruses, and other germs, such as H5N1. The most accurate method of assuring that food is cooked is to use a meat thermometer.
Flu viruses can infect chicken eggs by entering through the eggshell. The eggshells are smaller than the pores of eggshells, which means viruses can enter the eggs and the egg's surface will still be protected. However, it is still important to handle it safely.
As per the US Food and Drug Administration, cooking poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature and preventing cross-contamination between raw and cooked food.
Reject suspect eggs that are small, soft-shelled, or deformed since these may be a sign of infection in hens, though infected birds usually discontinue laying eggs before the situation gets worse.
While pasteurized eggs have a lower risk of infection because pasteurization effectively kills viruses, including bird flu, and bacteria. When cooking eggs, FDA officials advise:
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