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Oranges are healthy and full of good ingredients. You can find out more about the refreshing vitamin bombs and their health benefits here.

Round, bright colour, sweet and juicy aroma: this is what distinguishes oranges, also called oranges in some regions. But citrus fruits are not only popular because of their taste, but also because of their large portion of nutrients and vitamins: Oranges are very healthy.

The fruits are divided into summer and winter oranges according to when they were harvested. Winter oranges in particular grow in Spain and Italy. The harvest season extends from autumn to March for early varieties and into May for late varieties. Summer oranges have a longer way to get to us, coming primarily from the USA, Israel and South Africa.

If you want to shop as regionally as possible, oranges are not the best choice. At least you can eat fruits from southern Europe in winter. Their transport routes are significantly shorter than those of summer oranges and therefore cause fewer CO2 emissions.

Healthy Oranges: Calories, Vitamins and Nutrients

Oranges are rich in vitamin C – most of you have heard of that. But the healthy oranges also contain other valuable ingredients.

Nutritional values ​​per 100 grams of orange:

Energy: 47 kcal
Protein: 0.94g
Carbohydrates: 11.75 g
Fat: 0.12g
How many calories does an orange have?

A small orange weighs about 130 grams and has 61 kilocalories. So you can eat them as a light snack in between. Since it is very high in fiber and low in calories, it is good for losing weight. However, this does not apply to orange juice, which often contains a lot of sugar.

Vitamins and minerals per 100 grams of orange:

Vitamin C: 53.2 mg
Magnesium: 10 mg
Calcium: 40 mg
Potassium: 181 mg
With two to three oranges a day, you could already cover the recommended daily requirement of vitamin C. Vitamin C is not only important to strengthen your immune system, but also contributes to the maintenance of healthy bones and connective tissue.

Oranges also contain a good portion of magnesium, as well as some calcium. Both minerals ensure dense and stable bones and teeth.

Oranges are also a good source of potassium. Potassium is involved in the regulation of blood pressure, among other things. The World Health Organization recommends that adults with high blood pressure increase their potassium intake because it improves both systolic blood pressure (the pressure in the blood vessels when it is at its highest) and diastolic blood pressure (the pressure in the blood vessels when it is at its lowest). ) sinks.

Oranges: health effects

The juicy flesh of the orange is surrounded by a thin white skin, also called the mesocarp. It is best to eat these as well, because they contain health-promoting secondary plant substances such as flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of antioxidants. Studies suggest they may reduce the risk of some cancers and cardiovascular disease. The white skin also contains fiber. These ensure good digestion.

Positive effect on blood values

A study suggests that an antioxidant complex in oranges called hesperidin can lower not only high blood pressure but also cholesterol levels. As part of a healthy diet, the study concludes, eating oranges can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Oranges are healthy, orange juice is healthier?

A 2015 University of Hohenheim study suggests that orange juice may be healthier than an unprocessed orange. The initiator of the study explains that the body can better absorb and utilize certain ingredients in the orange, including carotenoids and vitamin C, if the orange has been pressed beforehand. Although small amounts of these nutrients are lost during pressing, the improved availability apparently more than compensates for this effect.

However, it is important to buy direct juice from oranges and not to use orange nectar. This consists of orange juice diluted with water to which sugar has been added. In addition, you should only drink orange juice in moderation because, in addition to its healthy ingredients, it also contains a lot of sugar (eight to nine grams per 100 grams of juice).

Tip: It is best to press the orange juice yourself. It is particularly fresh and the vitamin C is retained. You also avoid packaging waste. If you still buy orange juice, look out for the Fairtrade seal.

Buy oranges: organic is better

As healthy as oranges are, something spoils their enjoyment. According to Ökotest, pesticides can be detected in every second orange. This is especially true for conventionally grown oranges. One or more particularly dangerous substances were found in almost all examined oranges from conventional cultivation – for example imazalil, an antifungal agent that is suspected of being carcinogenic. You should therefore wash oranges thoroughly before eating them.

It is even more advisable to use organic oranges when shopping. According to the Ökotest, these are not or only slightly contaminated with pesticides. In addition, organic cultivation protects the environment and does not use any chemical-synthetic pesticides in cultivation.

Oranges smell wonderful and taste delicious. But the orange peels are too good to be thrown away. We’ll tell you how to continue using them.

Oranges are one of the most popular types of fruit, and not just in the cold season when you’re sitting comfortably indoors. No wonder, because they are delicious and contain a lot of vitamin C. But very few people think about the ecological balance of the delicious citrus fruit. For their production alone, 560 liters of water are used per kilogram of oranges in Mediterranean regions. If the citrus fruits come from further away, it is often even more liters. The oranges that you can buy from us mostly come from Spain or Italy. A lot of CO2 is emitted on the long transport routes.

Therefore, you should pay attention to the following when buying:

Only buy organic oranges and make sure they are grown fairly. Many pickers in conventional farms are only paid a pittance.
Pay attention to the country of origin. Opt for fruits that have been grown in Europe rather than those from South America.
Although oranges can be bought all year round, their main season is from November to March, as they are harvested in autumn. So it is better to buy oranges in these months than in summer.
Keep the oranges in a cool, ventilated place and consume them within a few days. Otherwise they can easily spoil.
Since the ecological balance of oranges is rather poor, you should use the citrus fruit completely – including its peel.

Basically, you can use the bowl in different forms:

Fresh: Use the zest immediately after peeling the orange
dried: Place the orange peels on the heater or let them dry at room temperature on a kitchen towel for several days. Once the peels are dry, you can store them for a long time.
If you want to use the orange peel in the kitchen, you should definitely buy unsprayed organic fruit.
By the way: You can also use all of these tips on tangerine peels.

You can find out how you can use orange peel in the following sections.

This is how you continue to use orange peels in the household

Remove limescale: You can use fresh, undried orange peels to combat limescale stains in the bathroom or kitchen, as the peels contain citric acid. You can rub off affected fittings with the inside of fresh orange peel, which will make them look almost like new again.
Neutralize odors: You can use fresh orange peel to remove odors, for example if plastic bowls or lunch boxes smell unpleasant. Rub them with the peels and then wash them out thoroughly.
Against stench in the oven: Orange peels even help against stench in the oven: simply heat them briefly in the oven. Thanks to the essential oils it contains, the bad smell will soon be a thing of the past.
Orange peel instead of fabric softener: You can also use untreated orange peel as an alternative to fabric softener. Simply put the shells in a cotton bag and put them in the wash. They help soften the water. In addition, everything smells wonderfully of oranges afterwards.
Orange peels instead of rinse aid: The same works as a rinse aid substitute for the dishwasher: simply put the fresh orange peels in the cutlery tray.
Orange peels against moths: Dried orange peels help against moths. Just put or hang a few in your closet.
Homemade all-purpose cleaner: You can easily make your own all-purpose cleaner from fresh orange peel and vinegar.

Orange peel: A versatile ingredient in body care

Help with blemishes: With the essential oils from orange peel you can fight age spots and pimples. Rub the white inside of a fresh orange peel over the affected area. If you repeat this a few times, the affected skin should recover.
Bad breath remedies: Chewing on untreated orange peel can help against bad breath. However, you should not do this too often, as the acid it contains can damage your tooth enamel. You should then give yourself some time before brushing your teeth the next time.
Shiny hair: You can also make hair conditioner from orange peels. Put the orange peels in a bowl and cover them with apple cider vinegar. Let the whole thing steep for about two days. Then pour off the orange peel and fill up the vinegar solution with water. It should be about three times as much water as apple cider vinegar. After washing your hair, pour the conditioner over your head without rinsing it out afterwards. The acidic rinse removes residue from your hair and gives it new shine.

Orange peels bring delicious flavors to the kitchen

Orange tea: You can quickly and easily make your own tea from orange peel. To do this, pour hot water on them when they are fresh or dry. The tea should steep for about ten minutes. The peel of an orange is enough for a pot of tea.
Citrus aroma for baking: With dried lemon, tangerine or orange peel you can give your home-baked pastries a fruity note. Plane off part of the peel and let it dry well. After that, you can store the pieces in a jar. Make sure the can is dry and airtight.
Vitamin C powder: Using a blender or food processor, crush dried tangerine or orange peel until pulverized. You can sprinkle the vitamin C powder obtained in this way over your muesli or eat a spoonful every now and then to strengthen your immune system.

Candied orange peel is a fruity candy that’s easy to make at home. In this way, the peel of the citrus fruits can still be used in a tasty way instead of ending up in the trash.

Candiing fruit is an easy way to make it last longer. The fruits are cut into cubes or strips and then sugared. Candied ginger, candied apples or candied orange slices are popular sweets.

Instead of using whole orange slices, it is also possible to candy just the peel of the citrus fruit. Candied orange peels have the same fruity taste and at the same time the advantage of reducing unnecessary food waste. This way you can still use the peel of the oranges, which is otherwise considered a waste product.

Important: Be sure to use organic oranges for candied orange peels. They are untreated because organic farming does not use synthetic chemical pesticides. So you can be sure that the orange peel does not contain any unwanted pollutants.

Make candied orange peel yourself: this is how it works

Ingredients:

Peel of 4 organic oranges
400 gsugar
200 g water

Directions:

Thoroughly clean the orange peels. Remove any remaining pulp and use a knife to cut out any damaged areas. Wash the shells under plenty of running water and drain well in a colander.
Cut the orange peel into 5mm wide strips.
Put 200 grams of sugar in a saucepan with the water and bring the mixture to a boil. Let the brew simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved. Reduce the temperature until the water is just slightly simmering.
Add the peel strips to the sugar stock and let them simmer for about ten minutes.
Take the pot off the stove and leave the orange peels in the sugar sauce overnight. Use a small saucepan lid or plate to weigh them down so they are completely covered with the liquid.
The following day, stir another 100 grams of sugar into the brew and let the shells simmer for another ten minutes. After that they have to go overnight again.
On the third day, stir in the last 100 grams of sugar. Let the orange peels simmer in the broth for a third time for ten minutes and then steep overnight.
On the fourth day you can strain the candied orange peel. Use a colander and catch the orange syrup. You can still use it in other ways.
Spread the candied shells out on parchment paper (or a parchment substitute) to dry. Make sure they are spaced enough apart and don’t stick to each other.
The candied orange peels are ready when they are no longer sticky. Until then, they usually have to dry for two to three days. You can then fill them into an airtight screw-top jar for storage.

Candied Orange Peels: Tips and Variations

Stored sealed, the candied orange peels can be kept for several months. You can eat them pure or use them to decorate desserts and drinks, for example.

You can vary the simple basic recipe in different ways:

Instead of orange peel, you can also candy the peel of other citrus fruits and thus save them from the garbage. Try the recipe with grapefruit, lemon or tangerine peels, for example, or mix different varieties.
If necessary, you can replace the sugar in the recipe with a sugar alternative such as birch sugar (xylitol). Then make sure to adjust the amount if necessary. You can exchange xylitol for sugar in a ratio of 1:1 – but this is not the case with all common sugar alternatives.
To refine them, roll the candied orange peels in sugar, for example, while they are still sticky. Or you can cover them with homemade chocolate icing after drying. When buying, look out for Fairtrade chocolate.

Who among us has never tasted an orange at least once in our life? Now it’s time to find out not only its taste but also interesting facts about this amazing berry.

  1. Orange is a type of berry, namely Hesperides (peeled berries).
  2. The sour orange was first introduced to Europe by Portuguese sailors around the 10th century, while the sweet orange was introduced only in the 15th century by Genoese traders.
  3. Around 20 percent of all oranges grown in the world are sold and consumed as fresh fruit. The rest goes to the production of juices, extracts, and canned food.
  4. An orange tree can live up to a hundred years.
  5. Washington Navel oranges are seedless and therefore cannot reproduce by pollination and reproduce only by grafting.
  6. One citrus tree can have up to 60 thousand flowers, but only 1 percent produces fruits.
  7. Valencia oranges are the most common in the world.
  8. Oranges are considered a symbol of fertility – a lushly growing evergreen orange tree simultaneously blooms, fructifies, and dissolves foliage.
  9. You will have to eat 7 bowls of cornflakes to get as much fiber as a single orange.
  10. After the aromas of chocolate and vanilla, the scent of orange is recognized as the most pleasant in the world.
  11. Oranges are the most common citruses in the world.
  12. For the first time, orange trees were grown in China.
  13. The average person eats about 5.5 kg of citrus fruits annually, most of which are oranges.
  14. In the 18th century, British sailors, in addition to sauerkraut, took oranges with them on ships so as not to get scurvy.
  15. One orange contains the daily requirement of vitamin C.
  16. Several trees can grow from one orange seed.
  17. Orange trees and their fruits are considered a symbol of love in many cultures. In Renaissance wedding paintings, artists often depicted a couple in love standing in the middle of orange trees.
  18. Oranges in ancient times were considered the food of the gods. The golden apples that Hercules stole could well have meant oranges.