Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : February 28, 2017 9:42 AM IST
When we talk about oranges, there shouldn t be too many questions on our mind. We know that this fruit which is easily available in the markets top the health chart among other home-grown fruits. But the catch is there are so many options to choose from that it becomes difficult to pick the right ones, especially making a choice between the local and the imported ones. This season the Mandarian oranges are plentiful in the supermarkets. There is no denying that each boost of being a rich source of antioxidants, vital minerals and a storehouse of Vitamin C. So if you think that it is better to prefer the imported ones over the Indian variety, let us tell you that it isn t necessarily a healthy decision. While buying fruits and vegetables always follow the thumb rule of investing in the local produce which has the right amount of antioxidants, minerals, macro and micronutrients suited for your body to thrive in that specific climatic and environmental conditions. Here are 10 reasons why eating oranges are good for your health.
There is a reason why you can t say no to this tangy-sweet fruit. The fruit is low in calories; rich in dietary fibre called pectin, which is a bulk laxative apart from being a storehouse of Vitamin C and antioxidants, says Dhvani Shah, naturopathic nutritionist and author of the book Don t Just Feed Nourish Your Child.
Now if you are thinking which one to pick from the Indian and Mandarin variety, here is what Dhvani has to say, The Mandarin oranges from China weigh approximately 53Kcals, has 13.3 gm of carbohydrates, 26.7mg of vitamin C and 1.8 gm of fibre, whereas the local oranges serves approximately 50Kcals with 11 gm of carbohydrates, 48.5 mg Vitamin C and 2.5gm of fibre. So this makes it very clear which one is good for you.
If you are still tempted to pick up the imported ones over the Indian variety, pick them up once a while to experience a different taste and texture of the fruit. But when you want to indulge in this seasonal fruit every day till it lasts, you should go for the locally grown produce. Even if the imported varieties are easily available for you around the year, it will be compromised on quality and nutrients.
The right way to have oranges:
Always try and have the whole fruit instead of having a glass of orange juice. Having the pulp is healthier than having the juice. This way you can be assured of getting all the nutrients of the fruit and its fibre content too. However, if you have the juice, you can lose out on the fibre content of the fruit.
Add this seasonal fruit to fruit salad and try new recipes like honey-orange chicken salad or a carrot orange soup to reap its benefits.
During the season make it your 11 am snack special to help your body get the rich supply of antioxidants, phytochemicals and fibre.
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