Temple Oranges vs. Orange Juice
We all know that fruit is good for us, but few people actually know why. The story of fruit in America goes back several hundred years. Long before there was a state of Florida, locals were planting fruit there. The orange was cultivated along with several other citrus fruit crops, like the grapefruit, the lemon, and the lime.
As it turns out, the money was not in fresh fruit. As popular as Florida oranges were, it was their juice that created the modern citrus industry in America. Rather, it was their frozen juice.
Frozen concentrated orange juice became popular during the Second World War. It was cheaper and more convenient than fresh juice and easier to prepare than real fruit. Orange juice is now the most popular fruit juice in America, by far. There are, however, lingering questions about its potential health benefits.
Most Americans accept without question that anything with fruit in it is good for them. But the truth is that there is a big difference between fresh fruit and fruit juice, especially when it comes to oranges. Let us take a moment to explain.
But before we begin, we want to say that we believe fruit juice is good for us. The only question is whether it is better or more salubrious than fresh fruit.
In a word, no, it is not. When an orange is sent to the processing plant for juicing, it is skinned and the pulp is often removed. Unfortunately, the pulp and the skin is where most of the nutrients are found.
Popular eating oranges, like Temple oranges, have large quantities of dietary fiber in their flesh and pulp. The orange actually has more fiber than any other citrus fruit. In case you were wondering, fiber is important because it improves digestive health by encouraging healthy bowel movements. That is an established medical fact. We also know that eating Temple oranges may lower a patient’s risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. Orange juice does not contain any dietary fiber.
How about vitamin C? While it is true that orange juice has some vitamin C, it is rarely has as much as advertised. Few people are aware of the fact that vitamin C loses its potency over time. A recent study found that the average carton of orange juice lost half of its vitamin C by the time it was brought home from the local supermarket. In short, fresh Temple oranges are a better source of the vital nutrient than store-bought juice.
Why is that important? For one thing, vitamin C works as a powerful antioxidant in the human body. Antioxidants are helpful little molecules that wage war against inimical free radicals, which can damage healthy cells. Many medical professions believe that free radicals may actually increase the risk of certain types of cancer.
Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves
At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.
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