Oranges are round citrus fruits with finely-textured skins that are, of course, orange in color just like their pulpy flesh. The orange specifically, the sweet orange is the fruit of the citrus species Citrus × sinensis in the family Rutaceae, which also includes pomelo, tangerine (mandarin orange) and grapefruit.
The word orange derives from the Sanskrit word for “orange tree” (nāraṅga), probably of Dravidian origin. The Sanskrit word reached European languages through Persian (nārang) and its Arabic derivative (nāranj).
The fruit of the Citrus sinensis is considered a sweet orange, whereas the fruit of the Citrus aurantium is considered a bitter orange. The orange is a hybrid, possibly between pomelo (Citrus maxima) and mandarin (Citrus reticulata), which has been cultivated since ancient times. Popular sweet-varieties include Valencia, Navel, Persian variety, and blood orange.
Bitter oranges (Citrus aurantium) are often used to make jam or marmalade, and their zest serves as the flavoring for liqueurs such as Grand Marnier and Cointreau.
Oranges originated thousands of years ago in Asia, in the region from southern China to Indonesia from which they spread to India. Spanish explorers are responsible for bringing oranges to Florida in the 16th century, while Spanish missionaries brought them to California in the 18th century, beginning the cultivation of this citrus fruit in the two states widely known for their oranges.
15 JUICY AND HEALTHY SECRETS OF ORANGES YOU MUST KNOW:
- Anti-Cancer: Oranges have a potent mixture of super antioxidants like Vitamin A (carotenoids) and C and citrus limonoids that inhibit and prevent free radicals from destroying body cells fending off cancers of the stomach, mouth, laryngeal, colon, skin, lung, breast, and liver.
- Aids metabolism: Orange contains compounds that stimulate your metabolic processes, helps burn fat, and stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels of the body.
- Immunity Booster: Studies show that the abundance of polyphenols in citrus fruits, including oranges, protects against viral infections and common flu like symptoms.
- Healthy Blood Sugar Levels: The wholesome fiber inOranges prevents the absorption of cholesterol into the blood stream, avoiding blood sugar spikes that cause major issues for diabetics.
- Heart Health: Potassium in oranges, an electrolyte mineral responsible for healthy heart functions, deficiency of which contributes to multiple cardiovascular complications including fatal arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm condition.
- Clear Vision: The rich array and quantity of carotenoid compounds in oranges get converted to vitamin A by body cells. Vitamin A is the vital component for eye health and prevents degeneration of eye muscles and conditions like age related macular degeneration.
- Aids Digestive System: Oranges offer a fiber that balances your metabolism, soothes the digestive tract, aids smooth elimination of waste from the colon, and stimulates digestive juices to provide relief from constipation.
- Stabilizes Blood Pressure: Plentiful Potassium, magnesium and the flavonoid hesperidin, present in oranges, helps regulate high blood pressure, hypertension, heart diseases and stroke.
- Bone Health: Potassium plays an important role in maintaining bone density and preventing/delaying the onset of bone diseases such as osteoporosis and athritis.
- Anti-Inflammatory: Studies place the orange’s anti-inflammatory properties on a chemical called hesperidin, helping prevent heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and other fatal conditions.
- Assists Kidney Function: Drinking orange juice regularly prevents kidney diseases and reduces the possibility of kidney stones formation.
- Anti Oxidant: Oranges contain high levels of antioxidant vitamin C known for its ability to boost the immune system, preventing oxidative stress on body cells and can help prevent heart disease and premature aging by neutralizing free radicals.
- Maintains pH Balance: Although oranges are acidic before you digest them, they contain many alkaline minerals that help to balance out the pH levels post digestion. pH levels are vital to proper heart functioning.
- Smart Carbs Source: Oranges are sweet but they are very low in the glycemic index. In moderation oranges can provide you complete wholesome nutrients, without the load of calories or carbs, which means no unnecessary sugar spikes or weight gain.
- Skin Care: Oranges are full of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant preventing cells damage from free radicals, replenishing the skin cells and protecting it from signs of aging.
Side Effects and Precautions:
- Insecticide sprays are widely applied over orange crops. Therefore, it is recommended to wash the fruits in cold running water before use. Organic orange fruits are devoid of these chemicals and are best suited for zest preparation.
- In children, taking large amounts of sweet orange peel is UNSAFE. It can cause colic and convulsions.
- Fructose-rich beverages such as sugar-sweetened soda and orange juice can increase serum uric acid levels and, thus, the risk of gout.
