Oranges are round, orange-colored citrus fruits that grow on trees. They originally came from China, but today these nutritious powerhouses are grown in warm climates around the world.
Types of Oranges
There are many different varieties of oranges. Some are sweet, and some are sour. Common types include:
- Navel
- Mandarin
- Cara Cara
- Blood oranges
- Valencia
- Seville
- Jaffa
Every type of orange has more than 100% of your recommended daily amount of vitamin C. That’s more than any other citrus fruit. All you have to do to get this key vitamin is peel and eat.
Nutrition in Oranges
One medium-sized orange has:
- 60 calories
- No fat or sodium
- 3 grams of fiber
- 12 grams of sugar
- 1 gram of protein
- 14 micrograms of vitamin A
- 70 milligrams of vitamin C
- 6% of your daily recommended amount of calcium
- 237 milligrams of potassium
- 15.4 grams of carbohydrates
Health Benefits of Oranges
The vitamin C in oranges helps your body in lots of ways:
- Protects your cells from damage
- Helps your body make collagen, a protein that heals wounds and gives you smoother skin
- Makes it easier to absorb iron to fight anemia
- Boosts your immune system, your body’s defense against germs
- Slows the advance of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss
- Helps fight cancer-causing free radicals
When you’re feeling anxious, vitamin C can also lower your levels of the stress hormone cortisol and your blood pressure.
