Benefits of Oranges, the Sunshine Fruit
By Emily Lindholm
Known as nature's sunshine food, oranges are a delectable snack in the summer heat. You really can't eat too many of these yummy fruits. They're packed full of nutrition, most famously Vitamin C, but the benefits of oranges extend further than that. Let's look at why you should stock up on these all summer long, and enjoy as many as you like.
Rich in Vitamins and Minerals
Oranges are packed full of vitamins and minerals, and because they're mostly made of water, they're super hydrating. They're easy to keep with you to pull out for those moments in the hot summer heat when nothing else seems to quench. The vitamins and minerals in oranges include the following:
- Vitamin C
- Thiamine
- Folate
- Potassium
High in Antioxidants
Oranges are high in antioxidants, specifically phenolics, and carotenoids. Both of these antioxidants yield the benefits of helping the body fight off free radicals and lower your levels of oxidative stress. These specific antioxidants include:
- Hesperidin
- Anthocyanins
- Beta cryptoxanthin
- Lycopene
Promote Heart Health
Oranges are known to promote heart health due to the number of flavonoids, particularly hesperidin, found in them. Hesperidin may have protective effects against heart disease, and the fibers that exist in the oranges may have an effect as well. Isolated fibers found in citrus fruits have been known to decrease cholesterol levels.
Kidney Stone Prevention
Often prescribed to patients with kidney stones, potassium citrate is the ingredient found in oranges that helps treat kidney stones. The citric acid and citrates in oranges help prevent kidney stones altogether.
Anemia Prevention
Anemia is caused by iron deficiency and is a condition that lowers a person's levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin, decreasing the ability to carry oxygen to the cells. Though oranges are not high in iron, they are high in Vitamin C, which helps with the absorption of iron, preventing iron deficiency and anemia.
Eat Them Up!
Oranges are mostly comprised of water and glucose, giving you hydration and energy! They come in various sizes and varieties, so try them all and see which ones are your favorite. Fresh squeezed orange juice is not only easy to make, but it's highly beneficial in the morning before breakfast. You can also squeeze some of the juices over a light salad with some walnuts and cranberries, or add the slices right into your salad! Oranges are great to eat all year round, giving you a boost of Vitamin C for your immune function, and they're delicious!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Davie, Fla.