Oranges belong to the citrus fruit family. Autumn and winter are the best seasons to eat oranges, as they are delicious and juicy. What are the effects of oranges on the human body? Oranges can boost the human immune system and improve resistance. They can also accelerate gastrointestinal motility and promote bowel movements. Additionally, they can help prevent cancer and the common cold.
Citrus fruits are the largest fruit family, including varieties such as oranges, tangerines, pomelos, grapefruits, kumquats, and lemons. Among them, oranges have traditionally been considered the main source of vitamin C in the Western diet and also provide a considerable amount of carotene and minerals such as potassium, calcium, and iron.
It should be noted that if you only drink orange juice, the health benefits of oranges will be greatly diminished. This is because during the processing of orange juice, a significant amount of vitamin C, flavonoids, and carotenoids is lost, and almost all dietary fiber except for pectin is lost.
5 major benefits of eating oranges regularly
According to measurements, every 100 grams of orange contains about 49 milligrams of vitamin C, which is about 10 times, 16 times, and 8 times higher than that in pears, apples, and bananas, respectively. Therefore, there are many benefits to eating oranges regularly.
1. Enhance physical resistance
Fresh oranges are rich in vitamin C, vitamin P, and organic acids, which can protect cells, enhance the activity of white blood cells, and resist free radicals. They have a significant regulatory effect on the body's metabolism and can enhance the body's resistance. The flesh and peel of sweet oranges can relieve poisoning from fish and crabs and also have a sobering effect on those who are unconscious from alcohol.
2. Accelerate intestinal motility
Oranges are rich in fiber and pectin, which play a certain role in accelerating intestinal motility, helping the body to clear the intestines and promote bowel movements, thereby expelling harmful substances from the body more quickly.
3. Prevent and treat colds and coughs
The cough-relieving and phlegm-resolving effects of orange peel are even stronger than that of aged tangerine peel. If you suffer from colds, coughs, or loss of appetite, drinking some orange peel water can have a certain therapeutic effect.
4. Cancer prevention
The beneficial components in oranges can remove harmful free radicals from the body and prevent the growth of cancer cells. According to measurements, oranges have the highest content of antioxidants among all fruits. The flavonoids in oranges have anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effects. Therefore, eating oranges regularly has a certain effect in preventing cancer.
5. Reduce the risk of gallstones
Oranges are rich in vitamin C and have always been a favorite fruit for many people. For them, another surprising benefit of eating oranges regularly is the reduced risk of developing gallstones.
In addition, it should be noted that oranges are rich in yellow pigment, and long-term, excessive consumption can cause the face and limbs to turn yellow. This is commonly known as "orange disease," which is not scary and can be resolved by simply stopping the consumption of oranges. Oranges should not be eaten on an empty stomach as it can harm the stomach. Avoid taking them with milk, as it can lead to poor absorption of oranges. People with a weak spleen and stomach, yin-deficient constitution, and diabetes should consume oranges with caution.