BENEFITS OF ORANGES

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Hello Steemians, I am going to take us on a health talk today. Our area of concentration today is going to be the history, benefits and the amazing facts behind the fruit ORANGE.

HISTORY:

Oranges were first grown in Southeast Asia, Northeastern India and southern China. They were first cultivated in China around 2500 BC. Romans brought young orange trees all the way from India to Rome in the first century AD. North Africa began growing oranges in the 1st century AD. In 1493, Christopher Columbus brought orange seeds across the Atlantic ocean to Spain's canary islands to Haiti, where he planted orange orchards. By 1518, oranges were introduced to Mexico and Panama, and later Brazil started growing the trees. America's first orange trees were planted in Florida in the year 1513 by spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon.

BENEFITS:
Oranges are low in calories, they contain no saturated fats or cholestorol. They are rich in vitamins, vital antioxidants, dietary fiber. Oranges are beneficial in the following ways

• RISK OF DISEASES IS LOWERED: Since oranges are full with Vitamin C. They protect cells by neutralizing free radicals. These free radicals are the ones that cause chronic diseases e.g heart disease and cancer.

•CONTAIN PHYTOCHEMICALS THAT PROTECT AGAINST CANCER: Oranges contain the citrus limonoids which have been proven to help in fighting a number of varieties of cancer e.g stomach, colon, skin, breast, lung.

•PREVENT KIDNEY DISEASES: Drinking orange juices consistently reduces the risk of kidney stones and prevent kidney diseases. Juice are to be drank in moderate amounts. The high acid content of fruit juices can wear away enamel and the high sugar content can cause tooth decay if it is consumed in excess.

•FIGHT AGAINST VIRAL INFECTIONS: According to studies, oranges protect against viral infections because of the abundance of polyphenols in them.

•ALKALIZE THE BODY: Oranges might be acidic before digestion, but they contain alkaline minerals which help in balancing out the body after they are digested.

•DONT CAUSE SUGAR SPIKE AND PROVIDE SMART CARBS: Oranges have sugar in them as other fruits do, but oranges have a glycemic index of 40. If under 55 it is being considered low. It therfore means as long as one does not eat too many oranges at a time. Your blood sugar won't be spiked up and you won't have problems with weight gain and insulin.

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•RICH IN POTASSIUM AND BOOST HEART HEALTH: Oranges are rich in potassium, which is an electrolyte mineral responsible for helping the heart to function well. When potassium levels get too low, one may develop an abnormal heart rhythm called Arrhythmia.

•THEY PROTECT SKIN: Oranges have excess beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant that protects the cells from getting damaged. The skin is being protected by beta-carotene from free radicals and it also help prevent the signs of aging.

•MANDARIN ORANGES FIGHT LIVER CANCER: This may be due in part to Vitamin A compoinds known as Carotenoids. It was researched in two studies in Japan that eating mandarin oranges reduces liver cancer.

•GOOD HEALTH AND VISION PROTECTION: Abundant carotenoid compounds are found in oranges, these are converted to Vit A and help macular degeneration.

•THEY RELIEVE CONSTIPATION: The presence of dietary fiber in oranges help relieve constipatiom and stimulate digestive juices.

•ORANGES LOWER CHOLESTOROL: Oranges are full of soluble fiber. So therfore they are helpful in lowering cholestorol.

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•REGULATE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: Flavonoid hesperidin is found in oranges and they help regulate high blood pressure, and the magnesium in oranges help in maintaining blood pressure.

Here are some Amazing facts about oranges:-

•Orange peels contain many volatile oil glands in pits

•Orange is the world's third favorite flavor after chocolate and vanilla

•In Queen Victoria's day, oranges were given as Christmas gifts in England

•Brazil produces more oranges than any other country

•In the 18th century, British sailors took sauerkraut and the citrus fruits on their ships to prevent scurvy

•Navel oranges are named after the belly button shape near the buttom

•The most common varieties of oranges are Valencia and Navel

•Oranges are the largest citrus crop in the world

•Florida produces about 70% of the total U.S crop and 90% of it's production goes to juice

•About 25 billion oranges are grown in America each year

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Fellow steemians, I guess we now know that it is advisable for one to add orange fruit to the list of fruit one consumes. Thanks for visiting my page. I hope you learnt something from this post. Follow @citimillz for more informative posts.

KEEP STEEMING!!!