The Many Health Benefits of Valencia Oranges

Everyone–from diet gurus to government officials–is searching for a solution to our weight woes. One of the fattest nations on earth, United States’ obesity rates have been rising for several decades now. As with any epidemic, there are more than enough expert opinions to go around. But one thing almost everyone agrees on is that Americans aren’t eating nearly enough fresh fruits and vegetables.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only about one-third of Americans get the recommended two daily servings of fruit each day. The numbers are actually a bit worse for vegetables. But since veggies are not nearly as popular in liquid form, that proportion is actually inflated. Why does it matter?

Fruit Juice vs. Fresh Fruit

Because it’s cheaper and more convenient, most folks prefer fruit juice to fresh fruit. But what they may not know is that real fruit is far better for us than the kind we might find in a bottle or carton. Why? For starters, fruit juices often contain added sugar, which not only increases the caloric content, but also is quite bad for our teeth. Secondly, when fruit is juiced, it loses most of the stuff that makes it so healthy.

What’s lost?

Since most of the vitamins, minerals, and compounds are found in the skin, pulp, and pith of the orange, almost all of it is lost during juicing. Of particular interest is the loss of soluble fiber, which has numerous health benefits and is not well represented in the traditional American diet. What does it do?

The 3 grams of dietary fiber found in Valencia Oranges has been shown to lower cholesterol levels in at-risk patients by promoting healthy bowel movements. In other words, the soluble fiber found in oranges help you got to the toilet, which helps cleanse your GI tract, removing excess cholesterol compounds in the process. There is also convincing evidence that high-fiber diets help reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer, especially colon cancer.

Valencia Oranges are also a good source of potassium, an electrolyte mineral that helps maintain proper fluid levels and may also promote optimal heart function. It is for this reason that doctors carefully monitor the electrolyte levels of patients who have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia.

How about Vitamin C?

While it is true that both fresh and juiced Valencia Oranges are chockfull of vitamin C, fruit juice tends to lose its potency over time. Several tests have revealed that levels may fall by as much as 40 percent when sold in liquid form. At the end of the day, the only surefire way to guarantee that you are getting all the health benefits of fruit is to consume them in their natural form.