SuperFoods -> Oranges

Oranges may well have been America’s first “health food.” Long recognized as a potent source of vitamin C, oranges are considered by most to be tasty, juicy, and perhaps too familiar. No one gets very excited about an orange in a lunchbox—but they should. The discoveries that are being made about the power of oranges to support heart health and prevent cancer, stroke, diabetes, and a host of chronic ailments should bring oranges and other citrus fruits back to center stage as crucial components in a healthy diet.

Oranges originated in Asia thousands of years ago and have become one of the most popular fruits the world over. Christopher Columbus brought orange seeds to the Caribbean Islands in the late fifteenth century, and Spanish explorers then brought oranges to Florida in the next century. About two hundred years later, in the eighteenth century, Spanish missionaries brought oranges to California. These two states remain the primary producers of oranges in the United States.

Citrus seems to have a protective ability against stroke. In the Men’s Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, citrus and citrus juice were major contributors to the stroke-risk reduction from fruits and vegetables. It has been estimated that drinking one glass of orange juice daily may lower the risk of stroke in healthy men by 25 percent while the risk is reduced only ii percent from other fruits. It’s very interesting that consumption of vita¬min C in supplement form does not appear to have the same benefits as the whole fruit when it comes to stroke prevention. This suggests that there must be some other protective substances in citrus juices to account for their power to protect from strokes. The current assumption at this point is that it’s the power of the polyphenols that make the difference. Another reason to rely on whole foods for optimal nutrition! On the other hand, more than 350 to 400 milligrams a day of supplemental vitamin C for a period of at least ten years seems to be an effective means of lowering your risk of developing cataracts. (This is one instance where supplements do work.)