Oranges get a lot of attention in the mainstream media for their high vitamin C content. Although that is an important nutrient, it’s far from all that oranges have to offer. They have even more potassium and almost as much calcium as vitamin C. They also come with an array of B vitamins, which are necessary for building cells and maintaining a healthy body.
Paleo and Carbohydrates
The only thing to be wary of concerning oranges is their high sugar content. While living a Paleo lifestyle does not have to mean limiting or eliminating fruit, some people find that they feel better when they limit their carbohydrates. If you are one of those people, you might want to avoid oranges and stick with lemons or limes instead.
Although many of us have been raised to believe that we need a daily glass of orange juice in order to remain healthy, this is not necessarily the best way to get your vitamin C. Fruit juice lacks the fiber of whole fruit. That fiber helps to slow down the digestion of the sugar in fruit, lowering the glycemic index. In addition to missing out on the fiber, most store-bought orange juices contain added sugar, something most of us living a Paleo lifestyle try to avoid.
That being said, oranges are healthy enough that even if you do choose to continue drinking orange juice in the morning, it can have certain health benefits. Robb Wolf mentions one study that found this to be true and speculates on the reasons.
