Contents
Properties of oranges and their benefits
What are oranges?
Orange is the fruit of the orange tree (Citrus x sinensis), a tree belonging to the citrus family.
It has a round shape, similar to the mandarin but larger and with a thicker and rougher skin.
The color of the skin indicates its ripeness, which varies from dark green to orange, as the fruit ripens.
If we peel the orange, inside, it contains an edible pulp of an orange color and fibrous texture, with several seeds inside the segments.
What do oranges contain?
As a source of energy, 100 grams of orange provide us with 47 kilocalories.
Its proportion of nutrients is divided into:
- More than 86% is water.
- 0.12% fat.
- Close to 1% protein.
- About 12% carbohydrates.
- 2.4% fiber.
From a mineral point of view, it is a fruit rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, but it also contains small amounts of iron, selenium, manganese, copper and zinc.
From a vitamin point of view, this fruit is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B9. It also contains other B vitamins and vitamin E.
NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF ORANGES
Benefits of oranges
- It has a high water content that prevents us from becoming dehydrated.
- It gives us energy to have vitality during the day.
- It is a very poor source of fat and protein.
- It is rich in carbohydrates, especially sugars.
- It has a moderate fiber content.
- It helps us eliminate toxins from our body, due to its potassium content.
- Calcium, together with phosphorus, maintains the balance of the formation of strong bones.
- It helps us to maintain correct brain functions, given its content of phosphorus and vitamins of group B.
- Magnesium helps muscles relax.
- Because of its vitamin B9 content, it helps to grow properly.
- It protects our skin and helps keep it healthy, because of its vitamin A content.
- It protects us from toxins and aging, due to its content of vitamin A, C and E and minerals like selenium and zinc.
More information on oranges
