benefits of oranges

The powerful antioxidants in oranges fight off oxygen free radicals that deprive healthy skin cells of oxygen by stealing oxygen molecules from them. These free radicals play a significant role in creating wrinkles in skin and also lead to sagging of cheeks. The significant amount of calcium in orange peels is also very effective for protecting against premature aging of the skin.

The abundant vitamin c and antioxidants in orange peels maintain the oils of the skinpreventing both very oily and dry skin. Applying orange peels on skin helps remove dead cells, dirt and keeps the skin well moisturized and toned. Additionally, calcium contributes to antioxidant production that reverses dry skin into looking healthy and glowing.

Two compounds in orange peel may protect against lung cancer. A 2009 study conducted at the Department of Food Science at the University of Massachusetts found polymethoxyflavones contained in the peel of sweet oranges inhibited the growth of cancer cells of the lung. Another compound, called liminoid, might also be responsible for preventing cancer of the lung as well as cancer of the stomach, colon and breast.

Orange peel extract is an ingredient used in a variety of health and beauty products, ranging from cold medicines to bath and body products. One notable product has shown to help with smoking cessation. According to Medical News Today, a scientifically proven nicotine gum, with dried orange peel as one of the ingredients, helps break down and remove nicotine from the body.

Allcitrus treesbelong to the singlegenusCitrusand remain almost entirelyinterfertile. This means that there is only onesuperspeciesthat includesgrapefruits,lemons,limes, oranges, and various other types and hybrids. As the interfertility of oranges and other citrus has produced numerous hybrids, bud unions, andcultivars, theirtaxonomyis fairly controversial, confusing or inconsistent. The fruit of any citrus tree is considered ahesperidium(a kind of modifiedberry) because it has numerousseeds, is fleshy and soft, derives from a singleovaryand is covered by arindoriginated by a rugged thickening of theovary wall.