Orange is a valuable source of vitamins and minerals: it is an excellent source of vitamin C (52% of the RDA - recommended daily allowance per serving), thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Due to its adequate mineral content, it has remineralizing properties - it helps remove toxins from the body.
In its country of origin, India, it is called na rangi or naranja in Sanskrit, while the English transformed the translation of norange into today's orange.
Orange is a valuable source of vitamins and minerals : it is an excellent source of vitamin C (52% of the RDA - recommended daily allowance per serving), thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Due to its adequate mineral content, it has remineralizing properties - it helps remove toxins from the body.
It contains citric, maleic and other organic acids in smaller quantities. In addition to the orange pulp, the peel is also used, which, in addition to being rich in vitamins and minerals, also contains essential oil, tannins, bitter substances, pectin and phytochemicals. If the peel is used, it is very important that the fruit is grown organically, without pesticides and other chemicals. The main component of the essential oil is limonene (about 96%), and the characteristic smell comes from citral and citronellal.
It also goes without saying that orange juice is one of the healthiest and most common juices, especially for breakfast . The refreshment that orange juice provides on hot summer days is not all - it is also extremely beneficial for the heart.
Everyone's favorite orange drink contains the antioxidant hesperidin, which improves blood vessel function and helps reduce the risk of heart disease. Hesperidin is a flavonoid found in grapes, red wine, green and black tea, and chocolate.
A growing body of research suggests that flavonoids may improve the health of blood vessel cells . Problems with these cells can lead to clogged arteries, a leading risk factor for heart attack.
The study involved 24 men at risk of cardiovascular disease. While the first group drank orange juice daily, the second consumed a fake product. The third group of men drank a fake drink enriched with 292 milligrams of hesperidin. This is exactly the number of milligrams of this flavonoid contained in 500 ml of orange juice.
After a month, the results were striking. Researchers found that men who drank orange juice or a hesperidin-enriched beverage daily had better endothelial function and lower diastolic blood pressure than those who drank a beverage without hesperidin.
The results of the study were presented at last year's American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences conference in Las Vegas.