Renowned for their hefty concentrations of vitamin C, oranges are one of the juiciest, sweetest, and most delicious fruits out there! The incredible health benefits of oranges not only help to energize and revitalize the body, but they help remove excess mucoid plaque from the digestive tract and lining of our arterial walls.
10 Health Benefits of Oranges
It’s no wonder that these orange globes, vibrating with only the purest of life energy, are one of the most popular fruits in the world! Here are 10 reasons you should start eating more oranges, if you haven’t already!
1. Heart Protection
Heart-healthy phytonutrients called herperidin’s in oranges have been shown to lower high blood pressure. This citrus fruit also offers protection against cardiovascular disease, thanks to the high folate concentration in oranges (a compound necessary for lowering homocysteine levels, a cardiovascular risk factor).
2. Anti-Cancer
Studies have shown cancer-risk reductions of over 40-50% in individuals who consumed citrus fruits! Oranges contain limonoids, which help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. These little guys hang around for a long time in the body (up to 24 hours!), which explains why they are such potent anti-carcinogens that help prevent cancerous cells from proliferating.
3. Cholesterol-Lowering
Limonin in oranges is also a great cholesterol-lowering compound. LDL, or “bad” cholesterol as you might hear it called, requires Apo B (a structural protein) for LDL production, transport and binding. Limonin, thankfully, helps reduce Apo B levels, and thus, reduces LDL cholesterol levels.
4. Kidney Support
Oranges are great for helping prevent kidney stones, and to keep toxins filtering out of the kidneys at a steady pace. Drinking 1/2 – 1 liter of orange juice (or grapefruit/apple juice) per day can help reduce the pH value of your urine while increasing citric acid excretion. This will, in turn, drop your risk for forming kidney stones!
5. Digestive Health
Tired of getting ulcers? Or maybe you just want to prevent one from happening. Well, oranges will be your new best friend! The high vitamin C levels in oranges help protect our body from the Heliobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria responsible for causing peptic ulcers. Recurrent peptic ulcers can increase your risk for developing stomach cancer later in life, so making sure you avoid ulcers altogether is crucial in terms of maintaining good digestive health. Drink at least 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice a day! Your tummy will love you for it!
Not to mention, oranges are also loaded with fibre, which means a healthy colon too!
6. Anti-Inflammatory
Oranges are loaded with anti-inflammatories. They contain beneficial phytonutrients like carotenoids, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin, which can significantly reduce your risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (an inflammatory disease). In fact, individuals who had the highest zeaxanthin intake were 52% less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis!
In fact, vitamin C prevents the free radical damage to DNA, which normally triggers the inflammatory cascade associated with conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Drinking 1-2 cups of freshly squeezed orange juice per day, will help your body stay healthy, and ward off any inflammatory conditions waiting to arise.
7. Immune Support
Oranges are renowned for their vitamin C content, and we all know that vitamin C helps steer away nasty bugs, bacteria and viruses. Vitamin C is important for helping prevent cell damage by eradicating free radicals and protecting our DNA (aka. cancer prevention). Not only that, but vitamin C helps in the functioning of a healthy immune system and is great for preventing colds, flus and ear infections.
8. Vision Protection
That bright orange colour is a good sign that these tasty fruits are loaded with carotenoid compounds which are converted to vitamin A in the body and help prevent macular degeneration and night blindness.
9. Healthy, Happy Skin
Oranges are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, all crucial components of ensuring beautiful, problem-free skin! The carotenoid antioxidants in oranges also help give the skin a beautiful glow and can help you look sun-kissed year-round.
10. Alkalizing
You might be thinking, “but wait, oranges are super acidic!” Well, yes, they are, outside of the body. Once these fruits enter into our digestive tract, their rich alkaline minerals help to balance out the body, ensuring our pH levels are in tip-top shape. Similarly, lemons, which are highly “acidic” are actually one of the most alkaline foods out there!
Sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=37
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/13-health-benefits-of-oranges.html
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