Oranges no longer surprise anyone. These bright orange suns can be found on store shelves all year round. Nevertheless, the orange itself is a remarkable fruit. It possesses a multitude of useful and amazing properties, as well as quite fascinating facts that will truly astonish you.
AdmiGram.com has prepared a special selection for you that will explain not only the benefits of oranges for health but also tell you a lot of interesting things about them. By the way, you can eat one while reading this. Let’s combine the pleasant with the useful! And at the end of our material, a cool bonus awaits you!
10 amazing facts about oranges + bonus
© Lucas George Wendt / Unsplash
Did you know that oranges were originally small and terribly bitter? Modern sweet varieties were only developed as a result of many years of breeding work. And thousands of years ago in Southeast Asia, oranges were only used to make bitter concoctions.
Oranges are one of the most well-known easily digestible sources of vitamin C, which is important for our immune system and skin health. One orange a day fully meets our need for this vitamin.
There are 97 different varieties of sweet and mandarin oranges. The most popular ones are Navels, Valencias, and Mandarins. Orange trees make up 70% of all citrus fruits grown worldwide.
In addition to vitamin C, oranges are rich in vitamins E, B3, B6, PP, A. They also contain dietary fiber and antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids, which help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer.
With proper storage and care, oranges can last longer in your refrigerator than most of your vegetables and fruits, staying fresh for almost a year. However, they are best consumed fresh. They are most beneficial when stored in your refrigerator for no more than 2-3 weeks.
Oranges are the most commonly used accompanying ingredient in recipes for various dishes, from juices and desserts to marinades and sauces. Also, derivatives of their essential oils are the most popular base in perfumery and aromatherapy.
In some Eastern cultures, oranges are considered a symbol of prosperity, so they are always given in addition to the main gift. By the way, the aroma and taste of oranges really evoke a sense of happiness and joy, thanks to their special amino acids.
Oranges are a unique tree because different varieties and even different types of these fruits can be grown on one trunk. This method of fruit cultivation is called two-tier citrus cultivation.
Oranges are rich in beta-carotene, which helps maintain eye health and may reduce the risk of vision problems such as cataracts and retinal degeneration.
The flavonoids found in oranges have antioxidant properties and can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. This is particularly relevant in modern ecology.
And finally, as promised – the bonus!
© Boxed Water Is Better / Unsplash
- Challenge your friends to guess how many segments are in an orange before you peel it!
- Then, remove the orange’s stem. Count the number of small holes in the resulting dimple – that number is the number of segments in the orange: through these holes, the orange absorbs juices into its segments.
- Peel the orange in front of your amazed friends and win the bet!
image on top: Noah Buscher / Unsplash
