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Health Benefits - Oranges and Freshly Squeezed Juices

It is now widely accepted that a key part of a healthy diet is to have at least 5 pieces of Fruit / vegetables a day.  The beauty of freshly squeezed juices are that they are such a quick and easy way to get you there. As a fully accredited member and license holder of the UK Government's 5-a-day scheme we've even developed our own logo to complement the UK government's official 5-a-day logo:

Oranges are renowned for their health benefits:

Oranges' Healing Phytonutrients

In recent research studies, the healing properties of oranges have been associated with a wide variety of phytonutrient compounds. These phytonutrients include citrus flavanones (types of flavonoids), anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and a variety of polyphenols. When these phytonutrients are studied in combination with oranges' vitamin C, the significant antioxidant properties of this fruit are easy to appreciate.

Vitamin C for Antioxidant Protection and Immune Support

As most people know oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C - just one orange supplies all of the recommended daily intake for vitamin C.

However, did you realise just how important vitamin C and oranges are for good health? Vitamin C is the primary water-soluble antioxidant in the body, disarming free radicals and preventing damage both inside and outside cells. Inside cells, a potential result of free radical damage to DNA is cancer. Especially in areas of the body where cellular turnover is especially rapid, such as the digestive system, preventing DNA mutations translates into preventing cancer. This is why a good intake of vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer.

Free radical damage to other cellular structures and other molecules can result in painful inflammation, as the body tries to clear out the damaged parts. Vitamin C, which prevents the free radical damage therefore reduces the severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Since vitamin C can neutralise free radicals, it can help prevent the oxidisation of cholesterol, which in turn leads to less fatty deposits in the arteries

Vitamin C, which is also vital for the proper function of a healthy immune system, is good for preventing colds and may be helpful in preventing recurrent ear infections.

Protection against Cardiovascular Disease

A 248-page report, "The Health Benefits of Citrus Fruits," released in December 2003 by Australian research group, CSIRO (The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research), reviews 48 studies that show a diet high in citrus fruit provides a statistically significant protective effect against some types of cancer, plus another 21 studies showing a non-significant trend towards protection.

Citrus appears to offer the most significant protection against mouth, larynx and pharynx, and stomach cancers. For these cancers, studies showed risk reductions of 40 - 50%.

The World Health Organization's recent report, "Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Disease," concludes that a diet that features citrus fruits also offers protection against cardiovascular disease due to citrus fruits' folate, which is necessary for lowering levels of the cardiovascular risk factor; potassium, which helps lower blood pressure, protecting against stroke and cardiac arrhythmias; and the vitamin C, carotenoids and flavonoids found in citrus fruits, all of which have been identified as having protective cardiovascular effects.

The CSIRO Report also includes evidence of positive effects associated with citrus consumption in studies for arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, gallstones, multiple sclerosis, cholera, gingivitis, optimal lung function, cataracts, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. And as if that wasn't enough, the CSIRO Report notes that as low fat, nutrient-rich foods with a low glycaemic index, citrus fruits are protective against overweight and obesity.

An orange has over 170 different phytonutrients and more than 60 flavonoids, many of which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and blood clot inhibiting properties, as well as strong antioxidant effects.

A Good Source of Fibre

Oranges' health benefits continue with their fibre; a single orange provides 12.5% of the daily value for fibre, which has been shown to reduce high cholesterol levels. Fibre can also help out by keeping blood sugar levels under control, which may help explain why oranges can be a very healthy snack for people with diabetes. In addition, the natural fruit sugar in oranges, fructose, can help to keep blood sugar levels from rising too high after eating. The fibre 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. And the fibre in oranges may be helpful for reducing the uncomfortable constipation or diarrhoea in those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

In addition to oranges' phytonutrients, vitamin C and fibre, they are a good source of thiamine, folate, vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), potassium and calcium.

Prevent Kidney Stones

Want to reduce your risk of kidney stones?  Drink freshly squeezed orange juice. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that when women drank ½ to 1 litre of orange, grapefruit or apple juice daily, their urinary pH value and citric acid excretion increased, significantly dropping their risk of forming calcium oxalate stones.

Protection Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition adds to the evidence that enjoying a daily glass of freshly squeezed orange juice can significantly lower your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Fairly dramatic benefits for doing something as simple as enjoying a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice each day!