Nutritional Values of Oranges

The rainy season brings so much euphoria to Nigerians that love this nutritious fruit and the fruit itself bears so much oranges this season. But have you ever wondered the nutritional values of Oranges aside the popular vitamin C we know it has? There are  nutrients in oranges. To begin with, oranges are low in calories, they contain no saturated fats or cholesterol, likewise, they are rich in dietary fiber, pectin. Pectin, as a bulk laxative, helps protect the mucous membrane of colon by decreasing its exposure time to toxic substances as well as by binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon. Furthermore. Pectin also reduces blood cholesterol levels by reducing its re-absorption in the colon by binding to bile acids in the colon.

Oranges as said earlier, are good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. When you take meals that are rich in vitamin C, resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the blood are developed.

This fruit also has a high amount of vitamin A, and other flavonoid antioxidants such as alpha and beta-carotenes, beta-cryptoxanthin, zea-xanthin and lutein. These compounds have been known to have antioxidant properties. Vitamin A is needed for maintaining healthy mucus membranes, skin and important for healthy vision. When you consume natural fruits rich in flavonoids, it help human body protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

Furthermore, Orange is a good source of Vitamin B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, pyridoxine, and folates. These vitamins are essential because the human body requires them to replenish.

Present in orange fruit in form of minerals are calcium and potassium. Potassium is an essential component of cell and body fluids because it helps control heart rate and blood pressure through countering pressing effects of sodium.

It is proven scientifically that citrus fruits especially oranges by virtue of their abundance in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals can serve us in lots of ways. Eventhough the non-nutrient compounds in the citrus fruits such as phyto-chemical antioxidants, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber helps in eliminating cancer risk, diseases like arthritis, obesity, and coronary heart diseases.