It has a high fructose content and this is a useful monosaccharide which is an isomer(mirror image of glucose).
When orange juice is taken the fructose which is the main sugar has to be biochemically converted to glucose before it is absorbed into the bloodstream to give energy.
In this way, diabetics and others can take one orange after each meal without overloading themselves with sugars.
The glucose is gradually released into the bloodstream after the orange has been digested and fructose converted to glucose. Hence, there is no immediate upsurge of glucose.
Blood Cholesterol Reduction
The soluble crude fibre in the orange when consumed helps to reduce bad cholesterol from the blood system. The lipolipids have affinity for the soluble pectin in the orange and it is then eliminated in this process.
Consumption of orange juice reduces bad cholesterol and improves arterial/capillary and venous circulation thereby improving the health of the heart as well as reducing hypertension.
The flavonoids like hesperidin in the orange are responsible for reducing cholesterol and preventing the arteries from getting blocked by fat globules.
Antioxidant Activities
With high vitamin c and flavonoids, consumption of oranges provides antioxidant functions by warding off the free radicals which are by products of body metabolism.
Free radicals have been implicated in a number of diseases, including cancer. Consumption of orange is a potent way of warding off free radicals and the prevention and mitigation of cancers.
