Orange Juice Recipes and Health Benefits of Oranges
The health benefits of oranges provide us with many antioxidants such as vitamin C, flavonoids and carotenoids. These potent antioxidants have protective properties against heart disease, cancers, arthritis, premature aging, diabetes and even hemarrhoids.
The most abundant carotenoid in oranges is called beta-cryptoxanthin. Beta-cryptoxanthin, like its carotenoid brother beta-carotene, can be metabolized by the liver into vitamin A. The health benefits of vitamin A include reducing the risk of developing eye diseases and protecting the lungs from harmful oxygen molecules (called free radicals) that we breathe in from pollution and smoke. Eating foods high in beta-cryptoxanthin is also associated with a 30% less risk of developing lung cancer.
The flavonoids in oranges, of which there are over 60 different kinds, are very beneficial for heart health. Flavonoids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. Atherosclerosis is now generally considered in the medical field to be an inflammatory disease. So a diet rich in flavonoids has been shown over and over again in different studies to significantly lower the risk of developing atherosclerosis, which itself is a major risk factor for heart disease. In addition to this, flavonoids also help to reduce blood platelet aggregation, helping to keep the blood thinner and healthier.
Vitamin C is closely related to flavonoids. In natural food sources like fruits and vegetables you never find one without the other. Supplements of vitamin C are now often found with added flavonoids. This is because they actually improve the bio-availability of vitamin C, making it more effective.
The health benefits of vitamin C, are in part, similar to those of flavonoids. Vitamin C also works as a powerful anti-inflammatory that greatly reduces the risk of developing atherosclerosis. In addition, vitamin C is an important constituent in the making of collagen (the substance that ‘puts the elasticity’ into arteries). Without vitamin C, collagen cannot be made, and cholesterol is used as a substitute. This is another major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.
Juicing Oranges
The flavonoids in oranges are mostly found in the peel and white membranes of the orange. As unorthodox as this my be, I actually juice some of the peel along with the orange to greatly increase the flavonoid content of the juice. The key is to scrape out some of the white from inside the peel and not to use the orange outer side of the peel – which tastes too sour when juiced. This rule can be applied to all citrus fruit juicing, if you want more flavonoids in your juicing recipes .
Orange Juice Recipes #1 – Straight O.J
4 medium sized oranges
Orange Juice Recipes #2 – Breakfast Bonanza
1 large grapefruit
2 oranges
Orange Juice Recipes #3 – Citrus Heaven
1 orange
1 grapefruit
2 tangelos
1/4 of lemon water to dilute (optional)
Orange Juice Recipes #4 – Tropical Orange
2 orange
1/2 cup of pineapple flesh
1 cup of strawberries
Hope you enjoyed the article
David Stevenson