An excellent natural remedy against the stages of inappetence, the orange is a real vitamin bomb, very useful not only for its antioxidant power, but also for stimulating brain activity, promoting digestion, relieving stomach pains, purifying the body and ensure a calming effect, at the expense of anxiety and stress.
In cosmetics, orange peel, typically porous and rough, is considered an ideal pretext for comparing the much hated, as well as omnipresent, cellulite. Moreover, for its round-shaped and bright-colored fruits, it has been the subject of numerous works artistic, while the white flowers are sung and exalted by many poets and writers
Also in the kitchen, orange is a very popular citrus fruit, which goes well with meat and fish dishes, as well as enriching fruit salads and decorating aperitifs and soft drinks.
they provide only 34 kcal per 100 grams, therefore they are indicated in diets that require few calories. For 100 grams of orange (edible part) there are 87 grams of water, about 8 grams of carbohydrates, 1.6 of fiber, 0.7 of protein and very little fat (0.2 g).
These citrus fruits are valued for their ascorbic acid content, although the estimated vitamin C intake in kiwis, peppers, spinach and strawberries is far superior.
The essential oil (or essence of Portugal) obtained from leaves and peel of the orange is very rich in limonene, monoterpene constituting 80% or 90% of the whole essence. In the essential oil there are also aldehydes, linalool, geranium, coumarins, furocoumarins and neral.
The essence of neroli is well known but, unlike what one might think, the sweet orange does not represent its starting matrix: the neroli extract is obtained exclusively from bitter orange flowers.
Other chemical components include citroflavonoids, carotenoids, flavanones (narirutin and hesperidin), anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside, typical of blood oranges), hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic, coumarin, caffeic) and fatty oils.
for its antispasmodic and stomachic virtues: therefore, it is mainly used in states of lack of appetite. Let us now try to deepen further therapeutic actions associated with orange.
The citroflavonoids perform the function of strengthening the capillaries: in this regard, the orange is useful in case of capillary fragility.
The richness in vitamin C ensures a powerful antiscorbutic, antiradical activity, as well as strengthening the body's immune defenses. The habitual consumption of oranges promotes digestion thanks to the substances capable of stimulating gastric juices and relieving any pain in the stomach.
Dried leaves and flowers of orange in phytotherapy
The dried leaves are used as a mild sedative, diuretic and stomachic. In higher doses, the decoction of dried leaves of sweet orange is a good natural remedy to counter cough (convulsive type) and spasms.
Dried flowers, on the other hand, are used in the treatment of mild insomnia. Experimental studies have recently been conducted on small guinea pigs (rodents) to test the potential effect of orange on uricemia (a parameter that expresses the amount of uric acid in the blood ) and uricosuria: after an administration period of three weeks, "a reduction in" uricemia due to hepatorenal uriculysis with uricosuria without alteration of diuresis "was observed. Dictionary of Phytotherapy and Medicinal Plants, by Enrica Campanini].
The essence extracted from orange is also used by the perfume industry, for the production of scented waters, shampoos, shower gels, body milks and perfumed creams. In the food sector, the essence of sweet orange is used for the preparation of liqueurs and spirits, as well as to make fruit jams and jellies.
The furocoumarins present are photosensitizing pigments, therefore they are sometimes used in the formulation of products to treat skin diseases. In cosmetics, sweet orange extract is used in the formulation of anti-aging creams, depigmenters and after-sun lotions.
To learn more: Orange and its properties in brief ", with a thinner but extremely juicy and very sweet skin, and the" table oranges ", larger, with a fleshy skin, generally less juicy, but just as tasty and sweet.
Among the "blond" oranges we remember the navelina, washington navel, ovale, etc., while among the reds it is obligatory to mention the Sicilian Red, including the blackberry, sanguinello and tarocco varieties: the latter take on a typical red color in the pulp thanks to the presence of some anthocyanins not appearing in the blonde variety.
subsp. sweet) is a cultivated tree belonging to the Rutaceae family.The leaves, fleshy, elongated, shiny and dark green, embellish the branches, embellished with beautiful white, fragrant, 5-petalled flowers. The fruits are rounded hesperides, consisting of exocarp (flavedo) with an orange color when fully ripe, mesocarp (albedo) white and spongy with a bitter note. The edible part is the endocarp, succulent and fleshy, divided into 8-12 cloves containing few seeds.
The sweet variant differs from the bitter orange for the absence of green caulinary thorns, for the sweet taste and for the leaves without a winged petiole. [adapted from Reasoned dictionary of herbal medicine and phytotherapy, by A. Bruni and M. Nicoletti].
