The orange tree is a small tropical to semitropical, evergreen flowering plant. It can reach a height of about 5-8 meters. Oranges are seasonal fruits. A typical orange can be 3 inches in diameter, and weighs 100 -150 g. The flowers of an orange tree are white in color and have a wonderful fragnance. The blooming period of flowers is in spring. The fruits ripen in fall or winter.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Citrus
Species: C. sinensis
History of Orange
It is believed that oranges were first produced in southeast Asia, sometime around 4000 BC. It was taken to Africa by travelers and found its way in the Roman soil by 200 BC. Sour oranges were introduced to the Arabs by 10 century A.D. The Portuguese came up with a new variety of orange called the Portugal orange. It is thought that Christopher Columbus was the first person to bring the seeds of orange to America during his second voyage in 1493. By 1820, orange grooves were thriving in St. Augustine, Florida. In 1873, three orange trees were brought from Brazil and planted in Riverside, California. It is interesting to note that one of the trees is still alive and bearing fruits.
Oranges are among the most valuable food crops in America. These fruits are suitable for everyone and are known as the best fruits to treat diseases. There are many orange nutritional facts that are not known by orange lovers. There is more to orange nutritional facts than just being the best source of Vitamin C. Orange is a major source of calcium, phosphorous, potassium, citrus acid, beta-carotene, aldehyde and compounds of alcohol ENE group. The predominant flavonoids in lemons and oranges, Hesperetin and Narigenin are other essential components in oranges. Narigenin is a bio-active compound that acts as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune system modulator. These antioxidants neutralize the effects of free radicals and unstable oxygen molecules in the body. This helps in slowing the aging process and gives you a younger looking skin. It also helps curbing diseases by increasing the immunity level of the body. Oranges are also rich in Vitamin A and other flavonoids and antioxidants like alpha and beta carotenes, beta-cryptoxanthin, zea-xanhin and lutein. Vitamin A helps in maintaining a healthy mucus membrane and skin. Vitamin A is also one of the most important vitamins to maintain a proper eye sight.
Oranges are a good source of fiber. These little marvels of nature are fat-free, sodium free and cholesterol free. The orange nutritional value further increases due to the presence of thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, magnesium and copper. As oranges are acidic, with a pH value between 2.5-3 that depends on the age, size and variety of the fruit, they are excellent detoxifying fruits.
Oranges are rich in pectin, that is a bulk laxative. It is very effective for people who are overweight. Pectin protects the mucous membrane of the colon by decreasing it’s exposure period to toxic substances. It also binds itself to cancer causing chemicals in the intestine, thus reducing the chances of cancer. Cholesterol levels in the blood are also reduced if the pectin level in the body lowers. Pectin decreases the re-absorption process in the intestine by binding to bile acids.
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