How Many Benefits of Orange

Orange is known to have several health benefits and is among the most popular fruits around the world.

Oranges can be had not only as a snack, but also as a major recipe ingredient in various dishes. Nowadays, orange juice is an integral part of a healthy breakfast, thus promoting a healthy start to the day. They're mainly available in two categories — sweet and bitter, with the former being the type most commonly consumed. Generally, an orange should have smoothly textured skin and be firm and heavy for its size. These will have higher juice content than those that are either spongy or lighter

 

 

Whole orange vs orange juice

A whole orange is more nutritious and healthy than orange juice. That's because of the presence of fiber in it. One cup or 240 ml of pure orange juice has the same amount of natural sugar as 2 whole oranges, but is less filling due to low fiber content. Fiber helps to bulk up your stool and prevents constipation. When you are trying to lose weight, eating fruit is a much better option than drinking juice, as fruit juice consumption can often become excessive and may lead to excess calorie consumption.
 If you still want to drink juice, then be careful with the quantity and take only freshly squeezed orange juice. The packaged drink that you get from the supermarket is not that healthy and contains preservatives.

Oranges are safe for consumption and only in rare cases, people may have allergies after consuming this fruit. For people suffering from heartburn, consuming this citric fruit might make things worse due to the presence of citric acid and ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

Benefits of eating oranges

High in vitamin C

Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C. One orange offers 116.2percentt of the daily value for vitamin C. Good intake of vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer, as it helps to get free radicals that cause damage to our DNA.

Healthy immune system

Vitamin C, which is also vital for the proper function of a healthy immune system, is good for preventing colds and preventing recurrent ear infections.

Prevents skin damage

Anti-oxidants in oranges help protect skin from free radical damage known to cause signs of aging. An orange a day can help you look young even at 50!

Keeps blood pressure under check

Oranges, being rich in Vitamins B6, help support the production of hemoglobin and also help keep blood pressure under check due to the presence of magnesium.

Lowers cholesterol

According to a study by US and Canadian researchers, a class of compounds found in citrus fruit peels called  (PMF) have the potential to lower cholesterol more effectively than some prescription drugs without side effects.

Controls blood sugar level fiber in oranges helps by keeping blood sugar levels under control, thereby making oranges a healthy snack for people with diabetes. Moreover, oranges have simple sugars. The natural fruit sugar in oranges, fructose, can help keep blood sugar levels from rising too high after eating. Its glycemic index is 40 and normally whatever foods fall under 50 are considered to be low in sugar. However, that does not mean you go about eating too many oranges in one go. Eating too much can spike insulin and may even lead to weight gain.

Lowers the risk of cancer

Oranges contain D- limonene, a compound that is touted to prevent cancers like lung cancer, skin cancer, and even breast cancer. Vitamin C and antioxidants present in oranges are both important to build the body’s immunity – they help in fighting cancer. The fibrous nature of the fruit also makes it cancer-protective. According to a study, up to 15percentt of cancer cases happen because of mutations in the DNA, which can be prevented with vitamin C.

Alkalizes the body

While the basic nature of oranges is acidic before you digest them, they have a lot of alkaline minerals that play a role in the process of digestion. This property of oranges is similar to that of lemons, which are without a doubt among the most alkaline foods.

Good eye health

Oranges are a rich source of carotenoids. The vitamin A present in them play an important role in keeping the mucus membranes in the eyes healthy. Vitamin A is also responsible to prevent age-related macular degeneration, which in extreme cases can lead to blindness. It also helps the eyes to absorb the light.

Safeguards against constipation

Oranges have both soluble and insoluble fiber. This helps in keeping your intestines and stomach function smooth, preventing irritable bowel syndrome. Additionally, the fiber helps treat constipation to a greater extent.

Useful tip

Oranges, like most citrus fruit, produce more juice when warmer — juice them when they are at room temperature. Rolling the orange under the palm of your hand on a flat surface will also help to extract more juice. Vitamin C gets destroyed fast when exposed to air, so eat an orange quickly once cut up.

History of oranges

Oranges have a very interesting history. The first set of oranges was grown in the northeastern part of India, Southeast Asia, and the south of China. They were first cultivated in China in 2500 BC. It was in the first century AD, that Roman took young orange trees from India to Rome.

Christopher Columbus planted orange orchards in Haiti. He had bought the seeds in 1493. By the year 1518, Panama and Mexico also got their first taste of oranges, and shortly thereafter Brazil started growing their own.

America plants its first orange trees in 1513. It was done by Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer.

The sweetest variety of oranges is Valencia, bloody orange, Navel, and the Persian variety.