A new study has revealed that munching on tangy fruits can help you stay slim.

It was shown by the study conducted on mice that the juice of the blood orange stopped them from piling on weight when fed a high-fat diet.

Those fed with sweeter oranges, however, were found to gain significant amounts of fat.

It is believed by the research team from University of Milan that the fat-busting powers of the fruit, grown in Italy and the US, may be partly due to its high levels of anthocyanin.

According to the reports of dailymail. co. uk, this red pigment that gives the orange its deep color is a type of antioxidant, a natural chemical that helps ward off disease.

The ability of cells called adipocytes to accumulate fat is damaged by the juice. Adipocytes are found mostly around the waistline and absorb fat from food to store as energy. (With Inputs from Agencies)