Key Takeaways
\nOranges take the top spot as the healthiest citrus fruit, offering more vitamin C than apples, lemons, and strawberries\u2014and supporting a strong immune system.They\u2019re rich in hesperidin, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells, supports heart health, and may guard against neurodegenerative diseases.Oranges are also a natural source of folate, a vital nutrient for cell growth, development, and heart health\u2014especially beneficial during pregnancy.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s so much to love about citrus fruits<\/a>. They boast a bright, sweet flavor that adds brightness to many dishes, from savory salads to baked goods. Citrus fruits are also packed with nutritional benefits, making them some of the healthiest foods you can eat. (They can even help boost your mood<\/a>!) And while all citrus varieties are worth adding to your plate, there\u2019s one that\u2019s particularly impressive. Can you guess which one it is? Read on to discover the best citrus fruit, according to a registered dietitian, plus what makes it so great.\n<\/p>\n The Healthiest Citrus Fruit <\/p>\n As far as citrus goes, oranges win first place, according to registered dietitian Kristen Carli<\/a>, MS, RD. For starters, \u201coranges and 100% orange juice<\/a> are incredibly rich in vitamin C, more than apples, lemons, and strawberries, making them one of the most accessible sources of [the] nutrient,\u201d Carli says. This is noteworthy because vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and particularly important for immune system health, she notes. What\u2019s more, the body can\u2019t make its own vitamin C, so eating fruits like oranges can help you get enough. (Tip: Always zest your citrus<\/a>, including oranges, as the outer peel has vitamin C too.)\n<\/p>\n The beloved orange also provides hesperidin, a unique plant compound found in citrus, Carli says. Hesperidin is an antioxidant, meaning it can help protect healthy cells from oxidative stress. The compound has also been shown to manage blood pressure and blood cholesterol (two key factors of heart health) and protect the nervous system from inflammation, potentially keeping neurodegenerative diseases at bay.\n<\/p>\n Finally, oranges are teeming with folate, also known as vitamin B9. \u201cThe water-soluble vitamin plays a key role in cell growth and development, making it especially important during pregnancy,\u201d Carli says. It\u2019s also vital in a well-balanced diet, as it may also help support heart health in adults. For context, \u201cone medium orange contributes 6% of your daily needs, while an 8-ounce serving of 100% orange juice provides about 15%,\u201d Carli says. In fact, 100% orange juice is one of the few fruit juices that is a good natural source of folate.\n<\/p>\n How to Eat Oranges <\/p>\n As the healthiest citrus fruit, oranges deserve a place in your fruit bowl. They\u2019re delightful on their own, but if you\u2019re looking for more creative ways to enjoy oranges, consider the following ideas.\n<\/p>\n In Dressing <\/p>\n Take a tip from Carli and mix 100% orange juice into your next homemade vinaigrette<\/a>. Use it in place of vinegar or lemon juice, or combine it with either ingredient for a dynamic flavor profile. \u201cIt adds a natural sweetness and makes it effortless to create a flavorful vinaigrette,\u201d Carli says.\n<\/p>\n In Smoothies <\/p>\n Give your favorite smoothie<\/a> a boost of nutrients with orange wedges or orange juice. They\u2019re especially tasty with tropical fruits, such as mango<\/a>, pineapple, and banana. You can also blend oranges with coconut milk, banana, vanilla yogurt, and vanilla extract for a creamsicle-inspired drink.\n<\/p>\n With Dark Chocolate <\/p>\n For a healthy treat, dip orange wedges in melted dark chocolate<\/a>. Place the oranges on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then sprinkle with coconut flakes or crushed nuts. Refrigerate the orange wedges until the chocolate sets, then enjoy as is or on top of yogurt.\n<\/p>\n In Salads <\/p>\n When incorporated into fruit salad, orange chunks will add a punch of brightness. You could even prepare a fruit salad made entirely of citrus fruits, like our recipe for winter citrus with nut and honey crunch<\/a>. Alternatively, if you\u2019re craving something savory, try oranges in a crunchy salad with chicken and ginger<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key Takeaways Oranges take the top spot as the healthiest citrus fruit, offering more vitamin C than apples,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":239878,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-239877","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239877"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239877\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/239878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=239877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=239877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}