The anti-ageing fruit

Orange is one of the most common and popular fruit in the world. Tangy, sweet and juicy oranges make a delicious and healthy snack or addition to a meal. A whole orange contains only about 85 calories and has no fat, cholesterol or sodium. Oranges lend themselves easily to a variety of food products, from orange juice and marmalades to orange candy and desserts and even face masks, which smell almost appetizing because of their orange aroma. Packed with essential vitamins and minerals, Oranges, like other citrus fruits, are also an excellent source of vitamin C. They offer a whole range of health benefits from boosting your immunity, to promoting healthy skin and improving the digestive process.

Health benefits of oranges: Lowers cholesterol: Oranges contain pectin, a soluble fiber, that traps cholesterol and eliminates it from the body before it is absorbed in the bloodstream. So, include an orange as well as a glass of fresh orange juice in your regular diet to combat cholesterol problems.

Good for your heart: Oranges contain vitamin C, fibre, potassium and choline, which are all good for your heart, so the fruits may give your ticker a big boost. Oranges also provide the calcium, magnesium and potassium needed to maintain a regular heartbeat.

Relieves constipation: Oranges are a very good source of soluble and insoluble fibre, which helps keep your stomach and intestines healthy by preventing problems like irritable bowel syndrome.

Improves your vision: Oranges are rich in carotenoid compounds which are converted to vitamin A and help prevent macular degeneration, a vision-related condition that causes blindness. Furthermore vitamin C in oranges can help reduce the risk of cataracts.

Anti ageing agent: Orange is considered a good anti-aging fruit because it contains antioxidant compounds that fight free radicals, which contribute to aging and a number of degenerative diseases. There’s a reason why oranges are popularly used in the beauty industry. Several beauty products including face packs, masks and creams that are available contain orange extract as a key ingredient. That’s because vitamin C present in oranges also helps prevent skin damage, by eliminating free radicals. Vitamin C, being involved in synthesis of collagen, an important component to maintain skin’s overall appearance and texture, prevents premature aging and wrinkling of the skin.

Boosts immunity: Being a citrus fruit, oranges are loaded with vitamin C that is essential for strengthening the immune system. Vitamin C promotes the production of white blood cells that fight against viruses, bacteria and other foreign invaders. Moreover, oranges contain plenty of polyphenols that protect against viral infections. Plus, they provide vitamin A, folate and copper, all nutrients that play a crucial role in boosting immunity.

Helps in losing weight: Orange is an incredible superfood for weight loss. The high fiber and vitamin C content of the fruit promotes weight loss. The fiber keeps you feeling full and helps you eat less throughout the day and vitamin C converts glucose into energy and helps burn fat. Plus, oranges are a great low-calorie and fat-free source of nutrients required for a healthy body. For best results, start your day with an orange and also drink a glass of fresh orange juice daily. Stay away from packaged fruit juices though, as many are loaded with sweeteners and preservatives.

Prevents kidney diseases: Drinking orange juice regularly prevents kidney diseases and reduces the risk of kidney stones. However, drink juice in moderate amounts. The high sugar content of fruit juices can cause tooth decay and the high acid content can wear away enamel if consumed in excess.

Keep cancer at bay: Oranges are rich in citrus limonoids, proven to help fight a number of varieties of cancer including that of the skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.

Beware:

Oranges are great for you, but you should enjoy them in moderation. Though oranges are relatively low in calories, eating several of the fruits in a day can add up and may lead to weight gain. Because they are a high-acid food, [oranges] can contribute to heartburn. An excess of this nutrient may lead to diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, bloating or cramps, headaches, insomnia, or kidney stones.

Orange facts:

Some fun facts about oranges include:

•        Oranges originated around 4000 B.C. in Southeast Asia.

•        The orange tree is a small tropical to semitropical, evergreen, flowering plant. It grows up to 16 to 26 feet (5 to 8 meters).

•        The word ‘orange’ derives from the Arabic ‘naranj’ and arrived in English as ‘narange’ in the 14th century, gradually losing the initial ‘n’. ‘Orange’ was first used as the name for a colour in 1542.

•        Moorish, Portuguese and Italian traders and explorers introduced sweet oranges into Europe around the 15th century, after finding the fruits on voyages to Asia and the Middle East.

•        About 85 percent of all oranges produced are used for juice.

•        There are over 600 varieties of oranges worldwide. A typical orange has 10 segments.