Day 5 Of 7 Superfruits

The super fruit of the day is the orange,  juicy, sweet and known for its high levels of vitamin C.  Oranges make the perfect snack and is one of the most popular fruits in the world.  Oranges are available from winter through summer with many different variaties available.  Oranges are usually about 60 calories and low on the glycemic index.  Oranges contain vitamin C, fiber, folate, vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, copper, calcium, and potassium. 

Health benefits of eating oranges are many, I will list a few of them.

1.  Helps prevent cancer- oranges are rich in citrus limonoids, proven to help fight a number of cancer including skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.

2. Prevents kidney disease- drinking orange juice in small amounts helps reduce kidney disease and reduces the risk of kidney stones.

3. Since oranges are high in fiber, they are helpful in lowering cholesterol.

4. Lowers risk of disease- oranges are full of vitamin C which protects cells by neutralizing free radicals.  Free radicals cause chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease.

5. Relieves constipation- With their high fiber content, the fiber stimulates digestive juices and relieves constipation.

6. Helps regulate high blood pressure- The flavonoid hesperidin found in oranges helps regulate high blood pressure and the magnesium in oranges helps maintain blood pressure.

7. Protects your skin- Oranges being so high in beta carotene, which in an antioxidant protecting cells from being damaged.  This protects the skin from free radicals and prevents the signs of aging.

These are just a few to name, they are a true super fruit in  my eyes.  Oranges like all fruits have simple sugars in them, but the orange has a glycemic index of 40.  Anything under 55 is considered low.  This means as long as you don't eat a lot of oranges at once, your blood sugar will not spike and will not cause any problem with weight gain.  This makes them a great smart snack.