What are orange benefits and side effects? Are oranges vegan? Gluten free? Acidic or alkaline? Low fodmap? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here are orange pros and cons: all the info on oranges that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on orange benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about orange benefits and side effects. This will include orange benefits for your health and potential risks, orange water footprint and orange carbon footprint, orange sustainability, if orange are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if orange are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about orange benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Orange Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Orange benefits for health may include:
- better digestion
- anemia prevention
- increased regularity
- kidney stones prevention
- cold and flu prevention
- bone health
- boosted immunity
- detoxification
- heart health
- lower high blood pressure
- protect against scurvy
- reduced inflammation
- reduced the risk of heart disease and cancer
- skin hydration
- reduced bloating
- weight loss
Additionally, oranges are…
- Alkaline 8.0 pH level (fresh) once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
- Low-FODMAP
★★★★★
- The fastest, easiest solution for making nutrient-packed smoothies.
- Load it up with your favorite whole foods like nuts, berries and spinach.
- Push, twist and blend your way to a healthier lifestyle.
- We love it!
Environment
Water footprint: low, it takes 560 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of oranges / 67 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of oranges
Carbon footprint: low, 0.6 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of oranges or mandarins, a car driving equivalent of 1.5 miles or 2.5 kilometers
Destruction: low, orange production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Oranges are…
- Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, orange production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, orange production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from orange production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Oranges are…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystem unless organic
★★★★★
- Perfect for children ages 2-8.
- Available in paperback, ebook, audio formats.
- Suitable for vegan kids and vegan families (does not include farm animals, animal food products or byproducts).
- Written + Illustrated by HEALabel's Adriane Marie.
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Oranges…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
The world’s top orange producing country is Brazil, followed by China and India. The world’s top orange exporting country is Spain, followed by South Africa, USA, Greece, Portugal, Australia, Chile, Egypt, Hong Kong and Italy.
Yes! Oranges are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C, thiamine, folate, and potassium.
Are oranges alkaline or acidic?
Oranges are alkaline when fresh.
What is the pH level of oranges?
Oranges have an 8.0 pH level when fresh, once digested.
Are canned oranges acidic?
All canned fruit is acidic and not ideal for an alkaline diet.
Oranges are commonly mistaken for being an acidic food. While oranges have a chemically acidic pH outside of the human body, they are extremely alkaline once ingested and metabolized.
If you have acid reflux or GERD you should avoid oranges because they are ‘acidic’ outside the body or before digestion. Acid reflux occurs at the lower end of your esophagus, before food can reach the stomach and be digested as alkaline.
If you do not have acid reflux or GERD, most fresh fruits, like oranges, are ideal for an alkaline diet. With a healthy digestive system, they can be properly metabolized and will become alkaline in the process.
After all, a true alkaline diet mostly consists of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Clinical studies report that eating high alkaline foods and staying properly hydrated may reduce the rate of cancer and other diseases!
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
Are oranges gluten free?
Yes, oranges are gluten free. Oranges do not contain gluten. Oranges are a type of fruit, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Are oranges a common food allergen?
No, oranges are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to oranges but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Are oranges low FODMAP?
Yes, oranges are low FODMAP, a food ok to eat if you’re on a low-FODMAP diet.
A low FODMAP diet may help those with bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
It’s all about knowing your body. Observe what works and what doesn’t. You body might even react negatively to a low-FODMAP food simply due to intolerance. Everyone is different! Be mindful and patient. Take time to get to know what’s best for your physical health and overall wellbeing.
Water footprint of oranges?
Oranges have a relatively low water footprint compared to other foods.
It takes 560 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of oranges / 67 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of oranges.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Carbon footprint of oranges?
Oranges have a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
It takes around 0.6 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of oranges or mandarins, a car driving equivalent of 1.5 miles or 2.5 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating product emissions, some factors that may be included are… farm equipment, animal feed production, hothouses (greenhouses), food processing, packaging, transport, refrigeration, freezing, package waste, and more.
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Are oranges sustainable?
Yes, orange production is relatively sustainable since there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
Are oranges vegan?
Yes, oranges are vegan. Oranges are a citrus fruit and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
Do oranges have human rights issues?
At this time there have been no major concerns with orange production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!
It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can face harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
Conclusion
Orange pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- alkaline
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Orange cons include:
- possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)
This post was all about orange benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Oranges, raw, navels – FoodData Central
When are Oranges in Season? – SNAP-Ed Connection
Citrus Fruits | Food and Nutrition Information Center
