Orange Fruit Facts

The orange fruit is basically a type of berry which grows on a small flowering tree known by the same name, in tropical as well as semi-tropical regions of the world. This citrus fruit is also known as sweet orange (mainly to distinguish it from bitter orange) and Chinese apple in some countries. Other than being absolutely delicious, oranges are quite healthy as well. In fact, it's one of the most important source of Vitamin C among various fruits and vegetables.

General Facts about Oranges

Did you know that the oranges, which has become one of the most important ingredient of the American breakfast today, originated in Southeast Asia, and went to various parts of the world. Given below are more of such general facts about this fruit.

• Even though oranges were introduced in the United States only about a 125 years ago, they have been grown in southern China and India since thousands of years. The history of this fruit in the United States can be traced back to 1873, wherein three navel orange trees brought from Brazil were planted in California.
• Being highly adaptable in nature, orange trees can grow in various tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world. The ideal temperature required for orange trees ranges between 60°F - 85°F.
• As of 2005, Brazil tops the list of orange producing countries with an annual production of 17.8 million tons. The United States, on the other hand, ranks 2nd, with an annual produce of 8.4 million tons.
• There are several different types of oranges, most popular among which are navel orange, red navel orange, Valencia orange, amber sweet orange, etc.
• Other than eating the flesh of this fruit, it is also consumed in form of juice and pulp. In fact, orange juice is considered to be the most popular juice in the world, while the fruit ranks 4th in terms of popularity.

Orange Fruit Nutrition Facts

As we mentioned above, this fruit is rich in vitamin C and provides 60 percent of the daily recommended intake of this nutrient. However, this is just one of the numerous oranges health benefits that you derive on consuming this fruit. Given below are some lesser known facts which stress on the nutritional value of this fruit.

• Oranges being rich in vitamin C help in boosting our immune system, and increase our resistance to infectious diseases.
• Even though this fruit is sweet it is comparatively low in calories, but rich in fiber and therefore an apt option for people who want to lose weight.
• They also contain a range of B-complex vitamins, such as thiamine (which maintains appetite and growth), pyridoxine (boosts metabolism), folates (promotes cell growth and reproduction) etc.
• This fruit is also rich in natural antioxidants, such as alpha and beta carotenes, which help tone your skin.
• Oranges also contains minerals, such as potassium and calcium in significant amounts, which have a crucial role to play in various human body systems.

Taking orange nutritional value into consideration, you can't deny the fact oranges provide some of the most important nutrients that our body requires for smooth functioning, and therefore we can't afford to exclude it from our diet.