Oranges are well understood for boosting vitamin C, seen as a defence against coughs and colds, but new research suggests they offer many other benefits. A team of British and French experts has established that oranges and orange juice can also offer protection against getting kidney stones, which sufferers complain can lead to pain “worse than childbirth”.
The research revealed, “Orange juice seems to play a protective role against stone formation”.
But the benefits of oranges don’t stop there, the research also recommended many other benefits of oranges and orange juice including:-
* Due a low glycemic index, orange is recommended for diabetes prevention.
* High vitamin C content stimulates white blood cell production and helps strengthen the immune system.
* High levels of antioxidants keep skin healthy and reduce signs of aging.
* An orange contains only 65 calories, making it highly recommended in weight loss diets.
Inputs with Rory Poulter and Maria Ortega, The Mirror
* High fibre content prolongs the feeling of fullness.
* They are rich in calcium, which protects bones and teeth, keeping them healthy.
* Consumption helps reduce fat absorption and lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
* Anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for people with arthritis.
* They are considered beneficial for preventing cancer and also for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Looking at kidney stones, the research said, there has been an increased prevalence in recent decades with the result that as many as one in seven people in industrialised nations, will suffer the condition at some point in their lifetime. Generally, there are two types of stones. Most are formed from calcium oxylate, which is associated with fruits like rhubarb, strawberries, and kiwi, vegetables like spinach, beets, and celery, nuts, chocolate, tea, and cocoa drinks.
However, much of the increase in recent years has been linked to stones associated with uric acid, which is mainly due to the high sugar content of the modern diet and increasing numbers of patients with metabolic syndrome. Historically, doctors have recommended that people vulnerable to getting kidney stones should moderate consumption of trigger foods and drink plenty of fluids.
The new research paper looked specifically at the effects of consuming citrus fruit and juices, specifically orange, grapefruit and lemon or lemonade. It pointed to one study that found the risk of stone formation rose by 37 per cent in men who consumed grapefruit on a daily basis, while a second project “showed that orange juice was protective against stone formation” with a 12 per cent risk reduction.
As a result, the research paper concluded: “Three large epidemiological studies showed an increased risk for urinary stone formation with the ingestion of grapefruit juice and a protective role for the consumption of orange juice.”
Inputs with Rory Poulter and Maria Ortega, The Mirror
