Orange is one of the most commonly grown fruit crops. Juicy orange pulp has a refreshing sweet and sour taste and contains many health benefits.
The orange tree is a hybrid of pomelo and mandarin. Orange began to be cultivated about 4000 years ago in Southeast Asia. It is known that around 2500 BC, the orange was brought to China, from where in the 15th century it came to Europe along with Portuguese sailors. The orange was brought to America during the second expedition of Columbus. Currently, over one hundred varieties of this aromatic citrus fruit are cultivated.
Vitamins in oranges
The main vitamin that oranges are rich in is vitamin C. One medium-sized fruit can fully satisfy the daily requirement of an adult for ascorbic acid. In addition, oranges contain many other vitamins, including carotene, tocopherol, biotin, choline, niacin and B complex.
In addition to vitamins, orange fruits are also rich in other healthy substances: minerals (potassium, phosphorus, iron, calcium, copper, magnesium, zinc, iodine, manganese, boron and cobalt), organic acids, dietary fiber, pectin, flavonoids, phytoncides, amino acid methionine and vitamin-like substance inositol.
Useful properties of oranges
Thanks to a variety of vitamins and minerals, the use of oranges improves peristalsis, suppresses putrefactive processes in the intestines, increases immunity, lowers cholesterol levels, prevents vascular blockages, slows down the aging process, normalizes high blood pressure, heals the nervous system and has a tonic effect.
Dietary fiber and pectin in orange pulp also aid in better digestion of food. In addition, they allow you to quickly relieve hunger, which is important for people who want to lose weight. Another useful property of pectin is the ability to absorb and remove from the body a variety of toxic substances (heavy metals, radionuclides and agricultural pesticides).
Flavonoids strengthen blood vessel walls. This effect is enhanced by vitamin C, which oranges contain in excess. Phytoncides have antimicrobial activity and improve heart function. Methionine and inositol have a lipotropic effect: they normalize lipid and cholesterol metabolism, improve liver function and prevent fat deposition in it. Methionine also has a mild antidepressant effect, since it affects the synthesis of adrenaline.
