Oranges

 

I think oranges are probably a favorite fruit for many people. They're a great source of Vitamin C. What are some other benefits of eating oranges?

The vitamin C found in oranges has the following health benefits:  

• Forms blood vessels, muscles, cartilage, and collagen in your bones.
• Fights inflammation and can reduce the severity of conditions like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer.
• Boosts the body's immune system to protect against viruses and germs.
• Improves iron absorption and fights anemia.
• Slows age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which can lead to vision loss. 
• Lowers blood pressure and cortisol, the stress hormone. 
• Prevents cell damage

Oranges also contain fiber, calcium, folate, potassium, citric acid, and, of course, natural sugar. Because of the fiber, it's better to eat an orange than to drink orange juice.

One helpful reason for drinking the juice is if you have diabetes and your blood sugar "bottoms out."  Use caution, though, because if you drink too much, then your blood sugar will spike, and may crash even lower. What a roller coaster! 

Also if you have chronic kidney disease, and are on dialysis, you need to use caution in your consumption of potassium. 

Yeah, these are things I've learned from observation of Jen's diabetes, and my dad's diabetes and CKD.