KELECHI
BENITA'S piece on 360MEDICS this week, sheds good light on some important medicinal
usefulness of the orange fruit. A very good read, I must say.
Who
doesn’t love a delicious and juicy orange as a snack? Orange is the fruit of the citrus species. As
of 1987, orange trees were found to be the most cultivated fruit in the world.
Orange trees are widely grown in tropical and subtropical climates for their
sweet fruit. The fruit of the orange tree can be eaten fresh, or processed for
its juice or fragrant peel. Also called the golden apple, delicious and juicy
orange fruit contains an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins,
minerals for normal growth, development and overall well being.
A
nutritionist who has authored a book on the cancer prevention properties of
citrus fruits, notes that orange is an excellent source of vitamin C, a potent
antioxidant that suppresses cancer-forming cells from thriving in the body. A
single medium sized orange can fulfill about 72% of your daily requirement for
vitamin C. It therefore reduces inflammation in immune related conditions.
There is a reason why oranges are popularly used in the beauty industry. Several
beauty products like creams that are available contains orange extract as a key
ingredient. This is because vitamin C present in oranges help prevent skin
damage. Vitamin C is also involved in the synthesis of collagen an important
component that helps maintain the skin’s overall appearance and texture.
Oranges are also packed with vitamin A that help keep the skin membranes
healthy. Vitamin A in oranges also helps keep mucus membrane in the eyes
healthy.
There
is also another health benefit of oranges which is attributed to its vitamin C
level. Vitamin C in oranges play a role in preventing heart diseases. Folic
acid or vitamin B9 present in oranges promote brain development and keeps the
vital organ in good condition. In fact, these nutrients also make orange a
healthy fruit for pregnant women as it helps prevents the baby from having
neurological disorders later. Oranges are also a very good source of soluble
and insoluble fibre which helps keep the stomach and intestines healthy by
preventing problems like irritable bowel syndrome. The fibre content in them
adds bulk to the digested food and reduces transit time of feces, preventing
constipation.
Death
is inevitable (definitely) but we can also leave our legacy through our offspring….*smiles*
[I know most people will be interested in this]. The antioxidants and vitamin C
present in oranges improves the quality and motility of the sperm thereby
keeping you sterile. Folic acid in oranges is also an essential nutrient for
maintaining healthy sperm. The rich fibre content of oranges has the ability to
keep a track of sugar levels in the body thereby preventing diabetes. This
makes it a good option for those who are diabetic.
Also
worth mentioning is that good oranges have a sweet taste and since diabetics
are not allowed to eat sweets or other sugary foods, they can eat oranges to
single their taste buds. Since oranges are full of soluble fibre, they help in
lowering cholesterol. A nutritionist also stated that if there is a reason why we
should eat fruits, it is because of their role in the prevention and management
of cancer. The quantity of vitamin C and A in oranges is more than what you can
find in any multivitamin prescribed for the purpose of preventing cancer.
Available in the market all round the year, oranges are the most popular citrus
fruit. It is simple to eat a fresh orange anytime or anywhere. Be sure to wash
them under running water to remove surface dirt and any pesticide residues.
Fresh orange juice can also be made at home and is far much better than those
commercial drinks that may contain preservatives and artificial colouring.
Oranges will produce more juice when warmer, so always juice them when they are
at room temperature. So go on...continue taking oranges [just took mine some
minutes ago] because as you can see, the
nutritional benefits are just so numerous. See you all next week.
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