Health Benefits of Oranges

The health benefits of oranges are numerous. The orange is known to contain significant amounts of antioxidants and vitamins that can help protect the body against free radicals, which can cause damage to cells and lead to chronic disease. One of the most common benefits of oranges is that it can help relieve gastrointestinal problems. The citrus fruit has been used for hundreds of years as food for indigestion. While the digestion process can be very complicated, there are a few things that you can do to ease the process.

1. Plenty of Natural Fiber

The fruit is full of natural fiber, which can help reduce constipation. Fiber is known to improve colon health by moving waste through the system more quickly. While this is an obvious benefit, it is the potassium that helps with constipation. Potassium helps to keep the entire body regulated and helps to eliminate wastes from the body in its proper order. Therefore, when consuming enough fiber, you can enjoy all of the heart-health benefits of oranges, without experiencing the side effects that most fruits tend to produce.

2. Protection from Infections and Free Radical Damage

The health benefits of oranges can extend to your eyes. The vitamin is found in the fruit helps to fight off infections and guard against free radical damage. However, if you do not eat enough vitamin c, you will be at risk for free radical damage. This can cause wrinkles and other age-related problems. For this reason, it is important to ingest a good amount of vitamin c each day.

3. Helps in Digestion

While one of the most important benefits of oranges is their rich fiber content, it is also important to consume a variety of other vegetables and fruits. Fruits and vegetables provide the majority of our dietary fiber, which helps to maintain regularity and keep our digestive systems running smoothly. However, most people only receive half of the recommended daily amount of potassium through their diet. By increasing the amount of potassium you consume, you can reduce your risk for high blood pressure.

4. Reduce Risk of Diabetes

The health benefits of oranges may also include reducing the risk of developing diabetes. Research shows that eating large amounts of fruit on a regular basis, such as in the diet of a large group of people, may help prevent diabetes. Some scientists believe that the low levels of fat in oranges provide an immune system boost that reduces the chance of heart disease. Although there isn’t enough evidence to suggest that oranges help lower cholesterol, consuming them may help decrease the buildup of plaque on artery walls.

5. Prevent Tooth Decay and Gum Diseases

Because oranges are rich in vitamin C, they are also known as a good food for preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Citrus fruits contain two percent or even more of this powerful antioxidant. Research suggests that citrus fruit, when taken daily, can help lower cholesterol and may help prevent the development of atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries. It is not clear how oranges help lower cholesterol or how they prevent atherosclerosis. It is believed that they lower blood pressure by decreasing the amount of platelets in the blood stream. Perhaps it is the vitamin C. citrus fruit extracts may also help lower the amount of inflammatory chemicals produced by the body.

6. Health Benefits of Vitamin C

Oranges contain an impressive amount of vitamin C, even more than most citrus fruits. They have about twenty times more vitamin C than limes or lemons, and ten times more vitamin C than oranges or grapefruits. These highly-nutritious vitamins may reduce blood pressure, strengthen the immune system and promote healthy skin, teeth and gums. And they are easy on the budget, too – about one-third of the vitamin C in oranges is absorbed directly through the skin, which means you get all the health benefits without having to spend a lot of money on fruit drinks.

7. Other Health Benefits

Because oranges are so rich in vitamins A, C, and E, eating an orange a day can help improve a person’s eye health and possibly prevent age-related macular degeneration. In addition to these benefits, research has indicated that citrus fruits are beneficial for lowering bad cholesterol levels and increasing the good cholesterol, called HDL, in the body. The research has indicated that, when eaten regularly, citrus fruits may help decrease cholesterol levels by as much as nine percent. It is not clear how this affects the cardiovascular system. However, the consumption of oranges has a number of other positive health benefits.