As the saying goes ‘food is medicine’ or should we say ‘orange fruit is medicine’. This is because Fruits provide nutrients vital for the maintenance of the body.  They are also naturally low in fat, sodium and calories; with none having cholesterol.  One of such fruits is  rich in all the nutrients your body requires are oranges

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VITAMINS ON-THE-GO

As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant Vitamin C, a single medium-sized orange can fulfill about 72% daily requirement of vitamin C needed in the body. Vitamin C is the primary water-soluble antioxidant in the body, disarming free radicals and preventing damage in both inside and outside cells.

SHIELDS AGAINST DISEASES

The World Health Organization’s report, “Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Disease,” concludes that a diet that features citrus fruit (orange) offers protection against cardiovascular disease due to its folate, which is necessary for lowering levels of the cardiovascular risk factor.
The potassium found in orange and some other fruits also helps to lower blood pressure, thus protecting against stroke and cardiac arrhythmias.

Orange has also been found to be very essential in preventing several cancers and diabetes. The fiber content in orange helps to reduce high cholesterol level and keep blood sugar level under control. More so,  natural fruit sugar in oranges, fructose, can help to keep blood sugar level from rising too high after eating and serves as a healthy sugar for diabetic patients.

The fiber in orange also has the power to grab cancer-causing chemicals and keep them away from cells of the colon, providing yet another line of protection from colon cancer.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, consuming bananas, oranges and orange juice in the first two years of life may reduce the risk of developing childhood leukemia. The fiber in oranges may as well be useful in reducing the uncomfortable constipation or diarrhea in those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

Kidney stone is also another deadly disease that orange intake could help prevent. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that when women drink from 1/2 to one litre of orange, grapefruit or apple juice daily, their urinary pH value and citric acid excretion increase significantly, therefore  dropping the risk of forming calcium oxalate stones.

PROTECTS YOUR SKIN

Orange, as a source of antioxidant vitamin C, when eaten in its natural form  or applied topically, can help  fight skin damage caused by the sun and pollution, reduce wrinkles and improve overall skin texture because Vitamin C plays a vital role in the formation of collagen that supports the skin.

Aside from, the Vitamin C, orange also contains vitamin A which helps keep the skin membranes and mucus membranes in the eyes healthy.

HELPS MAKE GENIUSES

The folate/folic acid or Vitamin B9 present in orange promotes brain development and keep the vital organ in good condition.  These nutrients also make orange a healthy fruit for pregnant every woman as it prevents the baby from having neurological disorders later. Oranges also contain phytonutrients called polyphenols that play a role in the development of learning and memory functions of the brain.

The antioxidants Vitamin C and folate contained in orange improve the quality and motility of sperm, thus keeping it fertile and  protecting the sperm from genetic damage that might lead to birth defects.

So if you’re having doubts about going for the cheap orange fruits, you should remember, it serves you more than most other expensive meals would.