Oranges are a sweet, round citrus fruit packed with vitamins and minerals.

Oranges are among the richest sources of vitamin C, with one medium fruit providing 78%Trusted Source of a person’s daily value of vitamin C.

A 140 g orange also contains the following nutrientsTrusted Source:

• around 65 calories
• 16.5 g carbohydrate
• 2.8 g of fiber
• 60.2 mg of calcium
• 15 mg of magnesium
• 232 mg of potassium
• 82.7 mg of vitamin C

Vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body. This vitamin is also essential for immune system function. It boosts immune function by helping the body to absorb iron from plant-based foods.

The human body cannot make vitamin C itself, so people need to get this vitamin from their diet. Oranges also contain high levels of pectin, which is a fiber that can keep the colon healthy by binding to chemicals that can cause cancer and removing them from the colon.

Oranges also provide the following healthful vitamins:

• vitamin A, a compound that is important for healthy skin and eyesight
• B vitamins, including thiamin and folate, which help keep the nervous and reproductive systems healthy and help create red blood cells.