Oranges are delicious fruits with a tangy taste and an uplifting aroma. They contain calcium, vitamins A, B and C, magnesium, potassium, choline, phosphorus and other nutrients.
Who doesn’t love a delicious and juicy orange as a snack? They are popular with athletes because they can be easily eaten for a burst of energy. There are thousands of reasons why eating an orange a day is a good idea; they are low in calories but full of nutrients, they promote clear, healthy skin and can help to lower our risk for many diseases and conditions as part of an overall healthy and varied diet.

It’s no wonder that these orange globes, vibrating with only the purest of life energy, are one of the most popular fruits in the world! Here are ten health benefits of eating an orange a day. You never know, it can save your life.



1. Heart Protecton

Oranges are great for heart health as they are rich in antioxidants, potassium and folate. The antioxidants present in orange protect the arteries from free radicals, stopping the oxidation of cholesterol. Potassium is a crucial nutrient for the heart’s health because it plays a crucial role in muscle contractions and heart functions. So, drink a glass of orange juice or eat a fresh orange daily to sustain heart health.


2. Helps Prevent Cancer

Oranges are rich in citrus limonoids, proven to help fight a number of varieties of cancer including that of the skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. According to two studies in Japan eating mandarin oranges reduces liver cancer.
In addition, orange juice helps in chemoprevention against mammary, colon and hepatic cancers.


3. Boosts Immunity

Oranges are renowned for their vitamin C content, and we all know that vitamin C helps steer away nasty bugs, bacteria and viruses. Vitamin C is important for helping prevent cell damage by eradicating free radicals and protecting our DNA (aka. cancer prevention). Not only that, but vitamin C helps in the functioning of a healthy immune system and is great for preventing colds, flus and ear infections.
Furthermore, oranges contain plenty of polyphenols which protect against viral infections. In addition, they have vitamin A, copper and folate, all the nutrients that have a crucial part in boosting immunity.


4. Healthy, Protect Skin

Oranges are full of beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant protecting the cells from being damage which also protects the skin from free radicals and prevents the signs of aging.
The high content vitamin C in oranges makes them excellent for flawless and clear skin. This antioxidant vitamin fights skin damage caused by contact to sun and pollution. Plus, through formation of collagen, it improves skin elasticity and reduces wrinkles.


5. Cholesterol-Lowering

Oranges have pectin, a soluble fiber that cuts cholesterol and eliminates it before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. In addition, they can lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels too.
Limonin in oranges is also a great cholesterol-lowering compound. LDL, or “bad” cholesterol as you might hear it called, requires Apo B (a structural protein) for LDL production, transport and binding. Limonin, thankfully, helps reduce Apo B levels, and thus, reduces LDL cholesterol levels.


6. Keeps Eyes Healthy

Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables are great for eyes because they are rich in beta-carotene, which is a predecessor to vitamin A in being vital for our eyes. Plus, the vitamin C and all other antioxidants in orange juice lessen the risks of developing cataracts and slow down the development of age-related macular degeneration.


7. Prevents Kidney Stones

Oranges are great for helping prevent kidney stones, and to keep toxins filtering out of the kidneys at a steady pace. Drinking 1/2 – 1 litre of orange juice (or grapefruit/apple juice) per day, can help reduce the pH value of your urine, while increasing citric acid excretion. This will, in turn, drop your risk for forming kidney stones!
Having a glass of orange juice every day can be really useful in preventing kidney stones.


8. Fights Against Viral Infections

Oranges are a good anti-aging citrus fruit because it has antioxidant compounds which fight free radicals contributing to aging and a variety of degenerative diseases.
Studies show that the abundance of polyphenols in oranges protects against viral infections.


9. Aids Weight Loss

Oranges are an incredible food for losing weight. The vitamin C and high fiber content of orange  promotes weight loss. The fiber keeps stomach feeling full and helps eat less all through the day and the vitamin C converts glucose to energy and aids in burning fat. Also, oranges are a good fat-free and low-calorie source of nutrients needed for a healthy body.


10. Oranges Alkalize the Body

Although oranges are acidic before you digest them, they contain many alkaline minerals that help to balance out the body after they are digested.
Once these fruits enter into our digestive tract, their rich alkaline minerals help to balance out the body, ensuring our pH levels are in tip-top shape.
In this respect, they are similar to lemons which are one of the most alkaline foods available.


History of the Orange

Oranges where first grown in southeast Asia, northeastern India and southern China and were first cultivated in China around 2500 BC. In the first century AD, Romans brought young orange trees all the way from India to Rome. North Africa began growing oranges in the 1st century AD. America’s first orange trees were planted in Florida in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon.