Amazing Health Benefits Of Oranges

No fruit has a juicier story than the orange. It originated in China, but today growers cultivate this nutritious powerhouse in warm climates around the world.

Whether it's round, navel, or Valencia, every type of orange has more than 100% of your recommended daily amount of vitamin C. That's more than any other citrus fruit. All you have to do to get this key vitamin is peel and eat.

Nutrients per Serving

One medium-sized orange has:

- 60 calories
- No fat or sodium
- 3 grams of fiber
- 12 grams of sugar
- 1 gram of protein
- 14 micrograms of vitamin A
- 70 milligrams of vitamin C
- 6% of daily recommended amount of calcium

Health Benefits of Oranges

The vitamin C in oranges helps your body in lots of ways:

•Protects your cells from damage
•Helps your body make collagen, a protein that heals wounds
•Makes it easier to absorb iron
•Boosts your immune system, your body's defence against germs
•Slows the advance of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision los
When you're feeling anxious, vitamin C can also lower your levels of the stress hormone cortisol and your blood pressure.

Some other benefits:

Anti-inflammatory.
Some foods tell your immune system it's under attack. This causes inflammation. When inflammation turns into a long-term problem, it can trigger diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Oranges have the opposite effect.

Fiber.
The 3 grams of fiber in a medium orange help keep your bowels healthy, your cholesterol low, and ulcers at bay. Fiber also slows the way your body absorbs sugar -- a big bonus if you have diabetes.

Calcium.
Oranges are high in this important nutrient, which keeps your bones, organs, and muscles strong.

Folate for moms and babies.
Oranges are a great way to get a big dose of folate naturally. Your body uses it to divide cells and make DNA. Because it helps prevent birth defects, it's an especially important B vitamin for pregnant women.

Good sugar.
The 12 grams of sugar in an orange are all natural. That's different from the kind of sugar you'd get in a candy bar. Plus, all the fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that come with an orange make it a much better choice for your body. Choose raw oranges, which have less sugar than the dried kind.

Potassium. This nutrient lowers your blood pressure, and oranges have a bunch of it.