HEALTH BENEFIT OF ORANGE

Maintaining a low sodium intake is essential to
lowering blood pressure, however increasing
potassium intake may be just as important
because of its vasodilation effects. According to
the National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey, fewer than 2 percent of US adults meet
the daily 4700 mg recommendation.
Also of note, a high potassium intake is
associated with a 20 percent decreased risk of
dying from all causes.

According to a study published in the American
Journal of Epidemiology, consuming bananas,
oranges and orange juice in the first two years of
life may reduce the risk of developing childhood
leukemia.
As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant
vitamin C, oranges can also help combat the
formation of free radicals known to cause
cancer. While an adequate vitamin C intake is
necessary and very beneficial as an antioxidant,
the amount necessary to consume for
therapeutic purposes for cancer is beyond oral
intake. 1 High fiber intakes from fruits and
vegetables are associated with a lowered risk of
colorectal cancer .

The fiber, potassium, vitamin C and choline
content in oranges all support heart health. An
increase in potassium intake along with a
decrease in sodium intake is the most important
dietary change that a person can make to reduce
their risk of cardiovascular disease, according to
Mark Houston, M.D, M.S, an associate clinical
professor of medicine at Vanderbilt Medical
School and director of the Hypertension Institute
at St. Thomas Hospital in Tennessee.
In one study, those who consumed 4069 mg of
potassium per day had a 49 percent lower risk of
death from ischemic heart disease compared
with those who consumed less potassium (about
1000 mg per day).
High potassium intakes are also associated with
a reduced risk of stroke, protection against loss
of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral
density and reduction in the formation of kidney
stones.

Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who
consume high-fiber diets have lower blood
glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have
improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels.
One medium banana provides about 3 grams of
fiber.