One of the benefits of eating an orange every day can keep the doctor away.
Almost everyone is aware that oranges contain vitamin C which is helpful for colds and flu, but the health benefits of oranges go far beyond easing the symptoms of the common cold.
Oranges are high in antioxidants, pectin, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, and beta-carotene, among other nutrients, which help maintain good health.
Cancer is high on the list for being prevented by citrus fruit intake. A Korean study found a ten percent reduction in risk of breast cancer with daily intake of citrus fruits.
Researchers in Japan found that there is a lower risk of liver cancer in patients who have liver disease. A one year study of 75 patients with viral hepatitis was conducted at the Kyoto Prefuctural University of Medicine. Results showed that the 30 patients who drank mandarin orange juice did not develop liver cancer. Of the remaining 45 patients who did not drink the orange juice, 8.9 percent did develop cancer.
Other cancer risks that were also lowered included stomach, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers.
The pectin found in the fruit and peels of oranges has been found to prevent prostate cancer. It also slows down the growth of tumor in those that already have the disease.
Beta-carotene, a carotenoid, helps protect the skin from high UV levels which damage skin cells.
Bioflavonoids in oranges have been found to neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation thereby preventing premature aging. One 2017 study shows that bioflavonoids may also be useful in preventing and treating dementia.
Carotenoids in oranges help prevent macular degeneration of the eyes.
Scientists have discovered that eating mandarin oranges may help in preventing hardening of the arteries, heart disease, and stroke. Oranges can reduce total cholesterol by 30 percent, LDL cholesterol by 27 percent, and triglyceride levels by 34 percent.
Carotenoids provide strong anti-inflammatory aid to protect against rheumatism and arthritis.
Carotenoids help protect the body against autoimmune disorders such as insulin resistance, type 1 diabetes, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.
These are just some of the benefits of eating an orange every day.
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Author Marilyn Pokorney
Copyright Marilyn Pokorney 2019