Oranges…Super Food!

Oranges possess over 60 different flavonoids, making them a nutritious fruit to eat o a daily basis. Immensely rich in hesperidin and naringin, oranges are emerging as a weapon for boosting eye health, fighting heart disease, preventing kidney stones and enhancing immunity.

Orange History

While oranges are widely available and fairly inexpensive today, they were once considered a prized luxury before the 20th century. The orange originated in Asia thousands of years ago9 with the most common types bitter and sweet. The later became popular across Europe in the 15th century before Spanish explorers brought it to Florida and California, currently two of the largest US producers of the citrus fruit. Other major world producers include Brazil, Mexico, and Isreal.

Boosting Eye Health

Glaucoma is a long-term visual neuropathy defined by structural abnormalties is the nerve fibers of eye structures as wall as the optic nerve itself. It can result in permanent vision loss if left untreated. A wealth of carotoids, including lutein and beta-cryptoxanthin, alond with vitamin C make oranges well-equipped to protect against this often symptomless disease. In one study, researchers at the University of California revealed that those consuming more than two servings of fresh oranges per week produced an 82% reduction in glaucoma rish compared to those who ingested less than one serving per week.

A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience suggests that vitamin C in oranges might be largely responsible for this powerful protective effect. Retinal nerve cells contain GABA receptors, which help modulate their transmission of electrical signals to the brain. Without sufficient amounts of the vitamin, GABA receptors malfunction, causing retinal nerves cells to fire signals at an excessive rate. This constant workload causes nerve cells death. Vitamin C rich oranges allow GABA receptors to function properly, thereby protecting against the loss of retinal nerve cells and preserving vision.

Along with glaucoma, a greater intake of oranges shows promise in defending against age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of vision loss in individuals over the age of 50. Researchers analyze data from more than 118k adults between the ages of 30 – 55 regarding fruit and vegetable intake over an 189 year period. They found that those who ate three or more servings of oranges per week had a 39% lower risk of age-related macular degeneration than those who consume less than two servings per month.

Source: Life Extension Magazine June 2013 Issue www.let.org

Source: http://www.bubblews.com/news/1393159-why-we-should-eat-more-oranges

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