HEALTHY EATING SUNDAY:

Oranges

My town is ripe with fresh oranges right now. We can take a cruise a quarter mile in any direction and buy enormous bags of oranges for $2-$3 bucks. Most of the old houses still have groves of oranges on their property. Some houses even have groves of grapefruits, lemons, and avocados. We love these oranges because they are juicy and sweet. It’s hard to understand why people pay for Florida Oranges in the local grocery store, when you can buy tasty navel oranges on most street corners in town. My children are famous for “smiling oranges” because they love to stuff them in their mouths and suck all the juice out of them! I don’t know who taught them this…I didn’t!!

The City of Redlands saw it’s first tree planted in 1882. You can read the history of the Redlands Orange Tree here. “Looking eastward, toward the colossal peaks, where ten years ago was almost unbroken stretch of red soil, we now behold, clear up to the eastern foothills, a continuous succession of magnificent orange groves, divided by broad and beautiful avenues, lined with ornamental tress of varied form and verdure.” (1897 Redlands Illustrated) Reminds me of Tuscany- only oranges- instead of olive trees.

Amazing beneficial effects of oranges can be found in one orange a day…Read more here.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Women who consumed the most Vitamin C and linoleic acid had the youngest looking skin! (Women’s Health Mag, April 2008) Why? Because Vitamin C helps the body synthesize collagen, which keeps the skin firm, while linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid) prevents dryness and inflammation.

*One orange provides 116% of recommended daily intake of Vitamin C.

* “Vitamin C is the primary water-soluable antioxidant that fights free radical damage in the aqueous environment inside and outside the cells.” When free radicals can damage your cells- this can lead to cancer. The more anti-oxidants you have in your body- the better.

*Particularly helpful in preventing colon cancer. Antioxidants bind themselves to the free radicals in your cells and “escort” the bad cell out of your body.

*According to the World’s Healthiest Foods, oranges have over 170 phytonutrients and 60 flavonoids all of which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and blood clotting abilities.

*One orange provides a good source of fiber. 12% of your daily recommendation for fiber can come in the form of an orange. “The fiber in oranges can grab cancer-causing chemicals and keep them away from cells of the colon, providing yet another line of protection from colon cancer.”

Enjoy your orange everyday as a snack. I also read that it’s great for diabetics because it can help stabilize blood sugars. How much Vitamin C did you eat yesterday?