Oranges

Bursting with flavor, oranges are seasonal fruits that measure about 3 inches in diameter and weigh 100 to 150 grams and grow on small tropical to semitropical evergreen flowering trees. Oranges are sweet or bitter, with the sweet oranges most commonly eaten. Well-known sweet varieties are navel, Valencia, Persian and blood oranges.

Oranges are loaded with Vitamin C, which helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge free radicals from the blood.

Orange season lasts from October through February.

Fresh oranges are heavy for their size, give to gentle pressure and smell sweet. Oranges make a wonderful monomeal—whole, blended or juiced—and they give more juice when stored at room temperature, lasting about a week.

Stats for 100 Grams of Orange (Raw, All Commercial Varieties)

• 87 calories

Notable Nutrients

Percentages based on the Reference Daily Intake for a 2,000-calorie diet

• Vitamin B1: 10.7%
• Vitamin C: 163.1%
• Folate: 13.8%
• Fiber: 17.7%
• Potassium: 9.5%

Carbs/Protein/Fat

• Carbohydrates: 91.1%
• Protein: 6.7%
• Fat: 2.1%

Food Type

• Acid fruit

Sources

• http://www.cronometer.com
• http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/orange-fruit.html
• http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=37
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_(fruit)