SEASONAL FOODS - FRUIT

SEASONAL FRUIT 

 ORANGE

History of the Orange:

• Oranges were first grown in southeast Asia, northeastern India and southern China and were first cultivated in China around 2500 BC.
• In the first century AD, Romans brought young orange trees all the way from India to Rome. North Africa began growing oranges in the 1st century AD.
• Christopher Columbus brought orange seeds in 1493 across the Atlantic Ocean to Spain’s Canary Islands to Haiti, where he planted orange orchards. By 1518 oranges were introduced to Panama and Mexico, and a little later Brazil started growing orange trees.
• America’s first orange trees were planted in Florida in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon.

Growing Oranges:

Oranges are tropical to semitropical, small evergreen flowering trees growing to about 5 to 8 meters tall. Evergreen means they produce flowers and fruit all at the same time.

Oranges are either sweet or bitter, but most of us eat only the sweet oranges. The most popular sweet varieties are Valencia, Navel, Persian variety and blood orange.

Warm weather can cause the orange skin to re-green, but it will still taste good.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF ORANGE :

1. Excellent source of Vitamin -c.

2. Contains variety of phyto chemicals thus protect cancer.

3. Contains Good level of Vitamin - A

4. Good source of B complex vitamins such as thiamine, pyridoxine, and folate.

5.Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure through countering pressing effects of sodium.

6. Low in calories

7. Contains no saturated fat or cholesterol.

8.  Orange juice help to prevent kidney disease

9.  Helps to lower cholesterol

10. Relieves constipation

11. protects skin

12. Alkalizes the body

13. Boost your immune system

14. High in fiber, thus helps in weight loss

15. Helps to reduce the risk of respiratory disease.