Who doesn’t love a delicious and juicy orange as a snack? Just about anybody would enjoy eating one or two oranges a day most of the year, since they’re easy to eat and provide quick energy. They also provide the following health benefits:
1. Oranges contain phytochemicals that protect against cancer. They are rich in citrus limonoids, proven to help fight a number of varieties of cancers including that of the skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.
2. Orange juice can help prevent kidney diseases. Drinking orange juice regularly prevents kidney diseases and reduces the risk of kidney stones.
Note: Drink juice in moderate amounts. The high sugar content of fruit juices can cause tooth decay and the high acid content can wear away enamel if consumed in excess.
3. Mandarin oranges fight liver cancer, according to studies. In two studies done in Japan, researchers found that eating mandarin oranges reduces liver cancer. This may be due in part to vitamin A compounds known as carotenoids.
4. Oranges lower cholesterol. Since they’re full of soluble fiber, oranges are helpful in lowering cholesterol.
5. They are rich in potassium and boost heart health. Oranges are full of potassium, an electrolyte mineral responsible for helping the heart function well. When potassium levels get too low, you may develop an abnormal heart rhythm, known as an arrhythmia.
6. They lower the risk of diseases. Oranges are full of vitamin C, which protects cells by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals cause chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease.
7. Oranges fight against viral infections. Studies show that the abundance of polyphenols in oranges protects against viral infections.