When you think about an orange, you think about the color, well…orange.
Not only is the peel that color, but the flesh is too.
However, what about the white part of oranges, the white, spongy things that look like connecting fibers?
Many people pull the white, stringy parts off called the pith.
It tastes bitter, has a strange, fibrous texture, and doesn’t look very appetizing.
However, the orange pith is abundant in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C, much like the orange’s flesh.
The orange pith is rich in one particular flavonoid called hesperidin.
Hesperidin is an antioxidant found in citrus fruits that has a variety of health benefits.
Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.
It also helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, improve blood circulation, and boost the immune system.
Additionally, hesperidin has been shown to promote weight loss by reducing appetite and increasing fat metabolism.
As you can see, hesperidin is a powerful nutrient with many health benefits.
Naringenin is a different flavonoid that can be found in oranges, including the pith, peel, and fruit.
It can potentially lessen intestinal absorption of carbohydrates, which may help prevent sharp blood sugar spikes after meals.
This might help with weight control and metabolic syndrome, which combines risk factors for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.
In addition, the orange pith contains loads of fiber.
Most people know that fiber is an important part of a healthy diet, but they may not know why.
Fiber helps to regulate digestion, preventing constipation and promoting regularity.
It also helps to control blood sugar levels, which is important for diabetics and those at risk for diabetes.
In addition, fiber intake has been linked to lower risks of heart disease, obesity, and some types of cancer.
And if that wasn’t enough, fiber is also beneficial for weight loss, as it helps to keep you feeling full longer.
So the next time you peel at orange, you may think about leaving the pith alone!
Is It OK To Eat The White Part Of An Orange?
Similar to the orange flesh, the white component of the fruit, called the pith, has numerous health advantages.
The orange’s spongy part is completely safe to eat, and the pith, like the orange, contains loads of fiber, calcium, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
Fiber
While fiber doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as antioxidants, it also has many health advantages.
A high-fiber diet promotes weight loss, according to studies.
You can lose 9 to 13 pounds over a year by increasing your fiber intake to the daily recommended level of 30 grams.
You can continue losing weight by consuming a lot of fiber in the pith.
Due to the increase in short-chain fatty acids caused by fiber, your gut bacteria will improve within a few days.
Reduced inflammation, improved immunity, and a lower risk of anxiety and depression are all correlated with healthy gut flora.
Consuming oranges and the orange pith can be a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C has a wide range of bodily functions.
It is necessary to expand, maintain, and restore all body tissues.
Additionally, it’s essential for developing collagen, iron absorption, and skin health.
It is best known for its activity in the immune system.
White blood cell production is boosted, and these cells kill invasive cells to defend the body from infection.
Additionally, it improves the efficiency with which white blood cells work.
Moreover, it aids in skin strength and the body’s elimination of free radicals as an antioxidant.
Antioxidants
Natural foods like oranges contain more potent antioxidants than supplements or pills.
Antioxidant-rich diets help decrease aging, enhance skin health, and lower the risk of several cancer types.
The body’s natural functions contribute to the development of free radicals.
Oxidation occurs when oxygen is metabolized, and free radicals are produced by this process and enter the body.
These free radicals destroy DNA and cells in the body by robbing them of their electrons.
Free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, and C.
Is Orange Pith Poisonous?
Although you probably already know that calcium and vitamin C are helpful for your bones and immune system, you might be curious about the health benefits of fiber and flavonoids.
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about dietary fiber.
But dietary fiber is actually an important nutrient that offers several health benefits.
For one thing, fiber helps to keep your digestive system healthy by promoting regularity and preventing constipation.
Fiber is also thought to reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
And some research even suggests that fiber may help to protect against certain types of cancer.
The easiest way to consume the pith is to consume it along with the remainder of the orange.
Peel the orange slowly so as not to remove more pith than is necessary.
The orange should then be eaten whole, including the pith, so you won’t have to sit there and painstakingly remove the pith next time!
I’m Chris Watson & the Founder of EatForLonger.com. I’m a food and wellbeing enthusiast researching and sharing foodstuffs and simple food-based concepts, such as fasting and clean eating.
I hope it inspires you to make tiny changes to what you eat and when you eat while optimizing your healthspan and all-around well-being.
Read more About Me here.