Favorite Fit Foods: Oranges

I absolutely love this time of year, especially in Riverside. You see, Riverside has the sweetest, juiciest navel oranges. They are the best when they have been picked right off the tree, which is why we have enjoyed being a short walk away from a grower/fruit stand. Not only can you get really sweet, juicy oranges this time of year, but you can also get a hint of the crisp, fragrant scent of the orange blossoms in the air.

I just read this week that citrus fruits, like oranges (or grapefruit, tangerines, ect.), contain more than 170 phytochemicals, more than 60 flavonoids---many of which have strong anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities to them. The great thing about this is you may get the benefits of this delicious fruit as soon as it touches your mouth. The chance of getting throat, mouth, and stomach cancers may be reduced by a whopping 50 percent! Even one extra orange a day, beyond the 5-servings of fruit/veggies you would normally eat, could have a good amount of benefits. Juice also counts, of course, although, the fresher and more pulp it has, the better. Now, do you really need any other excuses to eat this amazing fruit?

(Information from article by Jennifer Nelson, SHAPE, June 2004)