Orange Nutrition Facts

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The orange is by far the most popular fruit in the United States as Americans consume over five million gallons of orange juice each year. Orange juice absolutely dominates the juice market and it sells over twice as much as apple juice in the number two slot. Americans drink so much orange juice today for two primary reasons; it tastes good and it is good for you.
 
The orange wasn’t always so popular on this continent though. It wasn’t until orange trees were first planted in Florida in 1513 as the first citrus plant to make it the Americas. At first, oranges were a novelty food and they did not really enjoy widespread popularity until the health benefits of the plant became known. The first health benefit to be discovered was that oranges and citrus fruits were a reliable treatment for a disease called scurvy. At the time, doctors did not know that scurvy was due to a deficiency of Vitamin C and when word got out, the orange quickly became an indispensable food across North America. These days scurvy is no longer a menace and the average diet contains more than enough vitamin C to prevent it.
 
There are many more reasons to consume orange juice and eat oranges in addition to the fact that one eight ounce glass of Florida OJ has all vitamin C a person needs for an entire day. In addition to preventing scurvy, vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that works to fight off free radicals in the body that can damage healthy cells and increase the likelihood of cancer and heart disease. Vitamin C also helps support the immune system, and is frequently employed to help prevent colds because the vitamin has been shown to reduce both the severity and duration of colds, flu and other minor illnesses.
 
The list of benefits doesn’t stop at the flu, as vitamin C is also needed to help the body produce collagen, an essential component of healthy skin and gums Vitamin C can also help fight off antioxidants in the body that can speed up the aging process and because vitamin C can help make the skin look a bit younger, it is often used as an ingredient in skin creams.
 
Another beneficial nutrient in oranges is Folate or vitamin B9. Folate is used to help the body make new cells, and because the immune system is always producing new cells, Folate is required for a healthy immune system and to prevent the increased risk of of cancer due to a Folate deficiency. Along with Folate, vitamin B6 is another critical nutrient found in oranges. B6 helps bolster the immune system and boosts the organs that make white blood cells and fight off infections. Oranges also pack plenty of Potassium and Magnesium, both nutrients essential for proper heart function that help lower the blood pressure to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
 
Both orange juice and oranges themselves are completely fat and cholesterol free, but whole oranges have an advantage over orange juice when it comes to the fiber department. While whole fresh oranges are a great source of fiber, orange juice by itself has no fiber, and cannot help improve digestive health like whole oranges can. The proper amount of fiber in the diet is important because it can help lower cholesterol levels and also reduce the risk of various cancers too. Anyway you slice it, or juice it, the orange is America’s favorite citrus fruit because it tastes great and is packed with healthful nutrients.