What is the blood orange?
Blood orange is a citrus fruit characterized by a pulp with a peculiar red color.
What are the nutritional blood orange?
A medium sized blood orange provides roughly 80 Calories (about 34 per 100 g), mostly in the form of carbohydrates, a few proteins and less fat.
The blood orange is also a source of:
- fibers
- vitamin A
- C vitamin
- vitamin B1
- vitamin B2
- folate
- vitamin K
- vitamin PP
- citric acid
- other minerals and vitamins
- anthocyanins (in particular cyanidin)
When should you NOT eat blood orange?
The consumption of red orange could interfere with the effectiveness of diuretic drugs, some antibiotics (macrolides) and antihistamines.
Seasonality of blood orange
The blood orange is a winter fruit. It is generally available in the market from December to early May. More specifically, the Moro variety is usually marketed between December and March, while the Tarot is available from January to May.
Possible benefits and drawbacks of blood orange
Blood orange protects the health especially with its antioxidant properties. Vitamin C is present in amounts greater than those typically detectable in the other oranges. The latter have also been associated with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and seems to help lower bad cholesterol. Cyanidin also helps protect the health of the stomach and vision, red blood cells and blood vessels, it also prevents obesity and keeps diabetes under control.
Folate present in blood orange is useful to meet the needs of folic acid during pregnancy and to prevent the occurrence of severe developmental defects of the nervous system. Finally, the presence of vitamin K along with the low content of sodium, helps combat high blood pressure, while citric acid helps to prevent kidney stones and the fiber promotes intestinal transit by controlling the absorption of sugar and cholesterol.
