Holidays Are A Great Time for Oranges

By Tom Herrin

There are several things that come to mind each year at the holidays.  I always think of the lights, sounds, and smells.  A lot of things just create fond memories for me.  As for foods, I usually think of candies, nuts, and fruit.  Every year as long as I remember, we would get fresh oranges.  Our tradition included a pair of knee socks, with a large safety pin holding them together, draped over the back of a rocking chair.  Oranges would always be stuffed in there creating a huge bulge.  They are a staple in a lot of diets.  Almost every breakfast buffet I have ever seen has orange juice.  While most of us know many of the values of oranges, that list keeps growing.

The Traditional Nutrients

One thing comes to mind for most of us when we think of oranges.  We know it is packed full of Vitamin C.  What we are sometimes less aware of is that oranges contain good amounts of A and B1.  They certainly have abundant amounts of various other things such as calcium, potassium, and folic acid, as well as many others that are required for maintaining good health.  Newer focus has been on the fact that so many phytonutrients, particularly flavonoids, also are found in the content of oranges.

A Growing List Of Benefits 

We are all familiar with the idea that oranges can help with colds and other minor illnesses.  In recent years, much attention has been given to several other perks associated with regularly consuming oranges.  There has been good evidence to support a belief that they help in fighting some cancers.  Improving various issues related to the circulatory system now frequently appears on the list.  It has been known for quite some time that healthy development of babies during the mother’s pregnancy requires folic acid which can be partially supplied by oranges.

Check Out Your Produce Store 

It is possible that you just haven’t had fresh oranges in a while.  There is actually a little enjoyment in looking through the fresh produce at your local market.  There are all kinds and sizes of oranges.  At our house, the kids line up when we get out the oranges.  Peeling them and separating the sections becomes a family activity.  There are not very many things sweeter than fresh oranges.  Now that I think about it, I just might put some in my own stockings.

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.

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