Oranges are probably most popular for their vitamin C content.
They are not the richest source of this water soluble vitamin, but they are the most popular carrier of it.
One orange contains about 100 milligrams of this vitamin, which is more than the average person needs in a day.
Also onboard are phytochemicals which consist of polyphenols and flavonoids that act as antioxidants which combine with oxygen atoms and prevent cellular damage that results in inflammations and disease.
The immunity boosting power of vitamin C in oranges is useful for fighting germs and viruses.
Studies have shown that getting vitamin C from whole foods like oranges and other produce works better than simply popping a vitamin pill containing the vitamin.
Vitamin C is also beneficial for connective tissue, which can result in stronger and suppler younger looking skin.
Rheumatoid arthritis risk seems to be lower in people who eat plenty of oranges.
This fruit also is beneficial for those who smoke.
Smokers who eat lots of oranges seem to develop certain cancers less often than those who do not eat them.
Esophageal cancer seems to be the most preventable type from eating this fruit, and the phytochemicals seem to be the larger preventative factor.
Folate content is also very high, which can protect women's' unborn babies from developing spina bifida, which is a crippling spinal condition.
Homocysteine is a blood carried amino acid which has been linked to heart disease, and folate also helps to keep the levels of this amino acid in check.
Stroke is also a condition which has been observed to be lower in those who drink orange juice on a daily basis.
Vitamin C also seems to allow better iron absorption from vegetable sources of this nutrient.
Oranges are great on the go snacks because they have a protective skin which prevents them from sustaining too much damage, at long as nothing heavy crushes them.
They share this trait with bananas and some other fruits.
Oranges are easy to peel when you are ready to enjoy them, and they are also very high in fiber if you eat the whole orange as opposed to only consuming the juice.
The added fiber also slows their digestion, thus keeping the sugar from entering the blood too quickly as happens when you drink orange juice.
The sugar in orange juice enters the blood quickly, which is why it is useful when someone is faint after fasting and giving blood for blood tests.
The sugar combats low blood sugar caused by hypoglycemia.
There are many types of oranges, but one of the most popular eating types is the navel orange, named so because of the navel looking button found on the orange.
The larger the navel section, the sweeter the orange will be.
Oranges are a great source of vitamins, especially vitamin C, phytochemicals, minerals, and fiber.
They are convenient for transport and should be a part of any diet which is not sugar restricted.