What Are The Health Benefits Of Oranges?

Here's why eating orange is beneficial to your body:

1. It repairs the body

About 70 milligrams of vitamin C can be found in a medium orange, while slightly bigger-sized contains up to 100 milligrams. A study has found that participants who consumed 400mg of vitamin C every day improved their muscle function and reduced their soreness after exercise.

2. Improves brain function

A 2015 study recommended that drinking orange juice could improve the cognitive functions.

"Small, easily administered changes to the daily diet, such as eating more flavonoid-rich fruits and vegetables, have the potential to substantially benefit brain health," said co-author Dr. Daniel Lamport from the University of Reading, England.

But, nutrition experts do not suggest consuming oranges in juice form regularly because of its low levels of fiber and high sugar content.

3. Prevents eye diseases

A new research shows that those who include oranges in their regular diet are 60 percent less likely to develop a form of vision loss (macular degeneration) compared to those who do not consume the fruit.

"Even eating an orange once a week seems to offer significant benefits," said epidemiologist Bamini Gopinath from the University of Sydney in Australia. "The data shows that flavonoids found in oranges appear to help protect against the disease."

4. Heart health benefits

Frequent intake of the citrus fruit is linked to lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. This implies that fruits such as oranges may have a protective effect on the heart. A 2012 study also found that women who consumed high amounts of flavonoids (especially from sources like oranges) had a 19 percent lower risk of suffering a stroke compared to women who consumed the least amount.

5. Improves IBS symptoms

High levels of both insoluble and soluble fiber can be found in oranges. Soluble fiber attracts water and helps in removing excess fluid, while insoluble fiber helps pull water into the colon. Dr. Patricia Raymond, an assistant professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk suggests her patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to increase their intake of foods that contain these fibers.