Is it Okay to Eat Oranges on an Empty Stomach?
Citrus season is here, and it’s a great time to load up on lovely, healthy orange citrus fruit (arguably the most popular of the citrus fruits)!
There’s nothing like a fresh orange. Juicy and tangy-sweet, low in calories and high in nutrition, oranges (whether you’re enjoying seedless Navel Oranges or easy-to-peel Mandarin Oranges) are a perfect wintertime snack. Not only are they delicious, but they’re supremely good for you, too. You already know the gift oranges you receive from Hale Groves are packed with vitamin C (making them great for bolstering up your immune system against colds and flus), but oranges are also great sources of thiamine, folate and potassium. Oranges have lots of fiber and are low on the glycemic index, making them a great snack if you’re trying to watch your weight, too.
When’s the best time to eat an orange?
Before you order your orange box from Hale Groves you might be wondering if there’s a better time of day than another to eat an orange.
The truth is that oranges are always good for you no matter what time of day you choose to consume them. But just as exercising in the morning gives your metabolism just a tiny bit more of a boost than exercising later in the day, so does eating an orange (or any fruit, really) first thing in the morning, or between meals on an empty stomach. That’s because eating oranges on an empty stomach allows your body to get the maximum benefits of the fruit by soaking up all the vitamins, minerals, and fiber unimpeded by anything else in your stomach. By having an orange with breakfast, you make the most of the cancer-fighting, anti-inflammatory properties provided by its high levels of flavonoids and vitamin C!
Gold in the morning, silver at lunch, lead in the evening – is it true?
The above maxim is an Italian saying commonly applied to oranges. Based on the information above we agree there’s some truth to the “gold in the morning” part about oranges, but what about lead in the evening? Should you avoid the contents of your orange gift box after dinner for fear they will upset your stomach?
Well, it depends. There’s no real scientific basis for saying eating fruit of any variety is bad for you in the evenings, and a sweet orange can actually make a healthy and satisfying dessert (or a tangy addition to your salad at the start of a meal). But if you’ve already eaten a heavy meal and you suffer from gastritis, acid reflux, or some other stomach ailments, you may want to save the orange for when you’re feeling less full. That’s because oranges’ naturally high acidity can worsen those conditions. (Tip: If you’re REALLY in the mood for some citrus in the evening but you’re afraid of worsening your acid reflux, try a Sumo Citrus, a mandarin orange hybrid with big orange flavor and low acidity.)
Keep in mind that, while there are benefits to eating fruit on an empty stomach, you can enjoy low-calorie, high-fiber oranges anytime to enjoy great health benefits. Like all citrus fruits, oranges are full of Vitamin C, B Complex vitamins, and minerals like Potassium and Magnesium that will help you stay healthy. So, order some Hale oranges today and start feeling great!
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Hale Groves of Vero Beach, Florida, offers the best citrus and fruit gifts money can buy. Order some for your friends, family or yourself.
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