Citrus Bergamot Benefits and Supplement Dosage

Have you heard of a superfruit known as citrus bergamot? Exclusively grown in Calabria, Italy, citrus bergamot is revered by locals for its ability to promote both heart health and longevity.

And while this long-held cardiovascular health-boosting secret has supported healthy cholesterol levels for local Calabrian farmers and their families for centuries, the power of citrus bergamot remained out of reach for Americans until the 21st century.

Now, you can find citrus bergamot supplements in many health food and vitamin stores around the U.S. But not all supplements are created equally. Keep reading to learn about the power of this fruit, the top citrus bergamot benefits for your health, and the best (and easiest!) way to get it in your diet.

Citrus bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is an aromatic yet bitter-tasting citrus fruit that looks like a mix of an orange and a lemon. Due to its natural taste when eaten raw, many prefer to use it as an ingredient in other foods or beverages, such as juices or even in desserts. And some choose to use it only in its bergamot essential oil form (which utilizes the peel only) or supplement form.

The major exception to this lies with local citrus bergamot farmers in Calabria, as they know the greatest health benefits come from consuming the entire fruit. In fact, one fourth-generation farmer famously shared that his family and ancestors historically consumed about one fruit per person each day to support their heart health as well as their overall well-being.