subject: Good Things Come To Those Who Peel…the Health Benefits Of Oranges [print this page] Oranges. They're a pain to peel. To separate fruit from rind, you must dig your fingers deep inside an orange, exposing your skin to its sticky, acidic juices. If you have a paper cut, dry skin, torn cuticles, or even a hang nail, peeling an orange can burn. But which is worse: the temporary sting of orange juice on your skin, or the long-term havoc that cancer, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease can wreak on your entire body?
Let the Orange Out of the Bag!
Behind an orange's simple exterior is a gold mine of vitamins and antioxidants that keep you healthy and beautiful. Studies show that if you are willing to get your hands a little sticky for the love of oranges, eating this fruit each day may indeed keep the doctor away.
Fight Cancer With Flavonoids and Limonoids:
Oranges contain cancer-fighting substances called flavonoids and limonoids. Research from the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry indicates that a flavonoid called "naringenin" can inhibit tumor growth by repairing damaged DNA. The Agricultural Research Service (sponsored by the USDA) states that a limonoid called "limonen" helps combat at least six different types of cancer, including cancer of the colon and breast.
Pectin Makes the Heart Grow Stronger:
The fiber-rich pectin found in oranges can improve cholesterol levels and, in turn, promote cardiovascular health. Subjects in a study reported by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition experienced a 20% increase in HDL (the good cholesterol) when they drank 750 ml (roughly 3 cups) of orange juice per day.
Orange Before Beauty:
According to data compiled by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, consuming oranges can slow your skin's aging process. The high level of vitamin C in oranges boosts collagen production and deters the formation of wrinkles. Linoleic acid, an Omega-6 fatty acid found in oranges, helps prevent mature skin from over-drying.
An Orange in the Hand Means Less Fat on the Tush:
With approximately 60 calories and virtually no fat, oranges are a body-wise alternative to the sugar-laden cookies, donuts, and candy so many of us crave. Trade in your high-fat, high-calorie junk food for a low-fat, high-nutrient orange each day and watch the extra pounds melt away!
If the Flu Hits, Scare It!
Why do so many people reach for a glass of OJ when they come down with a cold or the flu? Although oranges possess no specific anti-cold/anti-flu properties, consuming the fruit does strengthen your immune system via all of the nutrients mentioned above. A strong immune system gives you a fighting chance at good health when cold and flu season strikes.
Blessed Be This Fruit and Its Rind:
All parts of the orangethe juicy fruit, the fibrous pulp, even the hard-to-peel rindoffer significant health benefits to those who eat them. The CDC recommends you consume at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Don't let a silly old orange peel stand between you and good health; dig into an orange today and reap the many benefits of this miracle fruit!
