A to Z skin foods: O-Orange
Hello there everyone!
Today I am going to write about the fruit which is abundantly available right now in Mumbai. Everywhere you see, there are cartloads of this fruit.
Yes, today’s alphabet is O and the skin food is Orange.
Ya, ya, I know that you all are thinking that “Humko toh pata hai”. I am sure many of us have used orange peel mask while growing up. So what new am I going to say?? Let’s just say that we shall see the technical part. Boring? Hell no, it is fun.
Orange belongs to the citrus fruit family. It is the fruit with the most irresistible fragrance. I remember, during my college days I used to travel by train. And every time anyone peeled an orange, the fragrance would make my mouth water. It is so delicious!
We all know that orange is a rich source of vitamin C. Now I have been writing about the benefits in vitamin C in my earlier posts. For those who came in late, here are the benefits:
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It protects our skin from the free radical damage. This prevents premature ageing. Vitamin C is also involved in synthesis of collagen. Collagen is a fibrous protein in the dermis that gives structure to the skin and provides the foundation for the retention of elastin and hyaluronic acid. Elastin is an elastic protein that helps maintain shape, while hyaluronic acid cushions and lubricates to keep the skin moist. More collagen enables the presence of more elastin and hyaluronic acid. With age and environmental damage, collagen is lost, and as time goes on, the body’s natural production decreases. The damage to the underlying structure of the skin reduces the skin’s ability to maintain elasticity and retain moisture. Hence dietary intake of vitamin C is very crucial.
We must include vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables in our diet to have healthy, glowing skin. Orange has many other benefits, but because we are focusing on skin, we will stick to this.
One concern many people have is that orange will give them cold or sore throat. This belief , especially in India, stems from our strong ayurvedic beliefs. Now ayurveda and nutrition are 2 different sciences. They both have different approaches to health. I suggest that if you are taking ayurvedic medicines, you follow all the restrictions and vice versa. So as per nutrition, orange doesn’t cause cold. If a person gets cold after eating orange, it is that person’s body reacting. It cannot be generalised. So if you get a cold, avoid it. Simple.
Go ahead and indulge in some skin therapy. As far as recipe is concerned, add it to your salads but please don’t bother cooking it. Vitamin C is a sensitive and volatile vitamin. It is easily destroyed by excessive heat and water. Hence eating the fruit as-it-is is advisable.
Enjoy fresh oranges! An orange a day will keep you looking younger!!:)
