The orange is the fruit of various citrus species in the family Rutaceae. Types of oranges are as follows:
1 – Blood oranges: Owing to a mutation of the original species, this variety has darker flesh and juice, as well as a richer taste, thanks to a higher concentration of anthocyanins.
2 – Navel oranges: This slightly smaller variety is classified by the growth of a second fruit, which often grows on one side, producing a bump or a “navel”. These fruits produce less juice and are often eaten as a slightly tangy/bitter snack.
3 – Acidless oranges: Lacking the characteristic acidity of other varieties, this variety is often considered the sweetest variety of orange and is primarily eaten, rather than used for juicing.
4 – Common oranges: Making up about 2/3 or all orange production, these include Valencia, Hamlin, Jaffa, Kona, and dozens of other popular varieties.
Benefits of oranges.
1 – Alkalizing effect (Despite being a highly acidic fruit, when the body metabolizes many of these acids, it actually has an alkalizing effect on the overall pH of the body).
2 – Anticancer effect (The citrus limonoids common in oranges are proven to help fight a number of varieties of cancer).
3 – Eye health (The presence of flavonoids in oranges helps improve vision health. These antioxidants and many vitamins are linked to a lower risk of eye diseases like macular degeneration).
4 – Kidney disease (By improving potassium levels and lowering blood pressure, this can help minimize strain on the kidneys and prevent kidney disease).
5 – Constipation (Good fiber levels can stimulate peristaltic motion and improve your general digestive efficiency, preventing symptoms of constipation).
6 – Cholesterol and Heart health (The high levels of vitamin C and fiber in oranges allow them to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol).
7 – Chronic disease (Polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, and other antioxidants help to eliminate chronic inflammation and lessen the effects of free radicals, which can lead to various chronic diseases).
8 – Viral infections (Eating these citrus fruits are known to kickstart the immune system).
Side effects of oranges.
Negative reactions only happen when eating excessive amounts.
1 – Stomach (With high amounts of fiber, eating too many oranges can lead to constipation, diarrhea or general stomach upset).
2 – Kidney disorders (If you are taking medication for high blood pressure and eating a lot of oranges, your potassium levels could rise too high, which poses a threat to the kidneys).
3 – Heartburn (The high acidity content can exacerbate symptoms of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)).