Oranges: Delicious and juicy orange fruit contains an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals for normal growth and development and overall well-being.
When eaten whole, the pith provides anti-cancer agents and important bioflavonoids. Oranges are rich in fiber too. Oranges are also rich in Vitamin A and B, iron, chlorine, manganese, zinc, sodium, phosphorous, iodine, calcium, folic acid, potassium, pectin, beta-carotene and amino acids.
In addition to their most well known ingredient, vitamin C, research has shown that oranges contain many other important cancer fighting compounds. Oranges have been found to contain over 170 phytochemicals, including over 20 compounds from the carotenoid family. Carotenoids have shown real promise in fighting cancer and other common illnesses, and oranges are one of the best dietary sources of these important compounds.
How does vitamin C help?
- Acts as a scavenger to harmful elements in your body. One of the most powerful antioxidants, vitamin C neutralizes free radicals (harmful elements naturally occurring within the body and through environmental factors) Vitamin C also helps he maintain a healthy body.
- Vitamin C can help boost the absorption of non-heme iron (the iron found in plants, not meat products). So including a glass of grapefruit juice before eating a spinach salad helps your body absorb two to four times as much iron.
- Supports a healthy immune system. When you feel that tickle in the back of your throat and your nose starts running, it is important to give your body the fluids and nutrients it craves to stay healthy. A serving of grapefruit juice can provide vitamin C and a host of other nutrients to keep your immune system strong and healthy.
Orange fruit contains a variety of phytochemicals. Hesperetin and Narigenin are flavonoids found in citrus fruits. Naringenin is found to have a bio-active effect on human health as antioxidant, free radical scavenger, anti-inflammatory, and immune system modulator. This substance has also been shown to reduce oxidant injury to DNA in vitro studies.
It is also a very good source of B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, pyridoxine and folates. These vitamins are essential in the sense that body requires them from external sources to replenish.
Orange fruit also contains a very good amount of minerals like potassium and calcium. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids helps control heart rate and blood pressure.
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