Orange Nutrition Facts

If you take a glance at orange nutrition facts, you’ll quickly realize that these citrusy, sweet fruits are more than just a refreshing snack or zesty garnish. In addition to complementing everything from a fresh salad to a mixed drink, oranges are a valuable part of a healthy, balanced diet. Relatively cheap, widely available, and tasty enough for nearly anyone to enjoy, oranges are among the best fruits out there for regular consumption. To demonstrate just how beneficial they can be, have a look at these specific orange nutrition facts.

1. The orange’s most well-known nutritional quality is its vitamin C content. An average sized orange has well over 100% of the vitamin C that the average person needs in a day. Though it’s been proven that increased vitamin C uptake doesn’t necessarily stave off the onset of illness as your mother might have told you, it is a great contributor to overall health. In fact, a person with a deficiency of vitamin C has a vastly increased risk of experiencing a condition called scurvy – which leads to symptoms like skin spots, depression, and even bleeding from mucous membranes. So, unless you’re a fan of being miserable, it’s clear that the vitamin C oranges provide so well is pretty important.
2. In comparison to other fruits, oranges are quite reasonable in calorie content. The average orange contains roughly 60 calories, which is much less than that of other sweet-tasting fruits such as apples and pears. The reason for this difference is the orange’s sugar content, which is relatively low when analyzed in comparison to those other aforementioned fruits. Additionally, its sheer size makes it a low-calorie, filling snack for those on a restricted calorie diet.
3. Orange nutrition facts reveal an impressively high level of dietary fiber. Fiber, which is more or less just indigestible plant cell material, is essential in the digestive health of humans. In addition to keeping the digestive system working regularly, it has been shown in medical studies to help reduce the risk of certain cancers. In the average orange, a person can get up to twelve percent of the dietary fiber they need in a day. Dietary fiber isn’t exactly uncommon in fruits, but few deliver as concentrated a dose as oranges.
4. Somewhat surprisingly, oranges are also a good source of calcium. This nutrient, though more commonly associated with dairy food products, is present in oranges at significant levels. One orange has between five and ten percent of the calcium you need in a day. Thus, in addition to the health benefits that its vitamin C and dietary fiber content provides, you’re also promoting bone health by enjoying an orange from time to time.