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Oranges
In the orange family, there are also the Mandarin oranges (with loose skin), Clementine (loose skin and seedless), the tangerine (orange-red Mandarin), the Minneola (cross between tangerine and grapefruit), the blood orange that has dark burgundy colored flesh, kumquat, and a few other lesser known ones.
The Mandarin oranges are especially popular with the Chinese as the word "orange" in Chinese sounds like "gold" or "good luck". Come the Lunar New Year, the Chinese buy oranges by the boxes to be given away to express good wishes for the new year.
Nutritional Benefits Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C and flavonoids. One orange (130 grams) supplies nearly 100 percent of the recommended daily dietary intake of vitamin C. When you eat a whole orange, it provides good dietary fiber. Leave in the pith (the white matter under the peel) as much as possible as the pith contains the highest amount of valuable bioflavonoids and other anti-cancer agents. In addition, oranges are a good source of vitamin A, the B vitamins, amino acids, beta-carotene, pectin, potassium, folic acid, calcium, iodine, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, manganese, chlorine and iron.
Health Benefits An orange packs over 170 different phytonutrients and more than 60 flavonoids, many of which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and blood clot inhibiting properties, as well as strong anti-oxidant effects. The combination of the high amount of anti-oxidant (vitamin C) and flavonoids in oranges makes it one of the best fruits in helping to promote optimal health. Arteriosclerosis: Regularly consuming vitamin C retards the development of hardening of the arteries. Cancer prevention: A compound in oranges called liminoid, has been found to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. The high vitamin C content also acts as a good anti-oxidant that protects cells from damages by free radicals. Cholesterol: The alkaloid synephrine found under the orange peel can reduce the liver's production of cholesterol. Whereas the anti-oxidant fights oxidative stress that is the main culprit in oxidizing the LDLs in our blood. Constipation: Even though the orange "tastes acidic", it actually has an alkaline effect in the digestive system and helps stimulate the digestive juices, relieving constipation. Damaged sperms, repair: An orange a day is sufficient for a man to keep his sperms healthy. Vitamin C, an anti-oxidant, protects sperms from genetic damage that may cause a birth defect. Heart disease: A high intake of flavonoids and vitamin C has been known to halve the risk of heart diseases. High blood pressure: Studies have shown that a flavonoid called hesperidin in oranges can lower high blood pressure. Immune system: The strong content of vitamin C stimulates white cells to fight infection, naturally building a good immune system. Kidney stones, prevent: Drinking orange juice daily can significantly drop the risk of formation of calcium oxalate stones in the kidney. Skin: The anti-oxidant in orange help protect the skin from free radical damage known to cause signs of aging. Stomach ulcer: Consuming vitamin C rich foods helps to lower the incidence of peptic ulcers and in turn, reduce the risk of stomach cancer. Viral infections, protection against: The abundance of polyphenols have been shown to provide protection against viral infections.
Consumption Tips
Choose oranges that are firm and heavy for their size. This indicates that they are full of juice. Lighter fruit has more skin and drier pulp indicating less juice. Oranges make good snack - just peel and enjoy, especially the loose skin varieties. To extract most juice from oranges, always juice them when they are at room temperature. Rolling them under the palm of your hand on a flat surface will also help extract more juice. Vitamin C gets destroyed fast when exposed to the air, so eat up an orange quickly once cut up. Do not leave the juice exposed for too long to preserve optimal nutrients. Oranges can be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks or stored loosely in the refrigerator. Do not store wrapped to prevent moisture and mold.
Caution No doubt oranges have many health benefits, always remember to eat in moderation. Excessive consumption of any citrus juices can leach calcium from the body system, causing decay of the bones and teeth. Although we often don't eat orange peel in significant quantity, it is good to know that citrus peels contain some oils that may interfere with the effects of vitamin A. If drinking juice caused excessive mucus build-up in your throat, you could be allergic to oranges.
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