5 Orange Foods To Eat More Of! (Sorry, Cheetos Didn't Make The List!)

Several fruits and vegetables get their bright orange color from a powerful nutrient called beta carotene. Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant that can be converted by the body into Vitamin A. Vitamin A is very important for good health, especially your vision. Because of its antioxidant properties, beta carotene is thought to have powerful anti-cancer properties. It may also help to enhance your immune system and help protect your skin from sun damage. Check out these five beta carotene rich foods and see why else they are good for you!

1) Cantaloupe

In addition to beta carotene, cantaloupe is a great source of the important nutrients vitamin C and potassium. To learn more about why these so good for you check out Why is Getting Enough Vitamin C So Important? and Why Potassium Is Important & Which Foods To Get It From!

2) Pumpkin

In addition to being a great source of both beta-carotene and alpha carotene, pumpkin is a low calorie source of fiber, potassium, selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin C. In SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life by Steven Pratt, M.D., pumpkin is called "one of the most nutritionally valuable foods known to man"! If you're interested in trying some delicious new pumpkin recipes, check out this Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie Recipe, Pumpkin Pancake Recipe, or Light Pumpkin Bread From Cooking Light!

3) Carrots

In addition to beta carotene, carrots are a good source of fiber, manganese, niacin, potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. 

Fun Fact: Carrots were originally purple, red white, and yellow. The orange carrot was invented by the Dutch by crossbreeding red and yellow carrots in honor of the Dutch royal family. For a few more fun facts about carrots check out 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Carrots!

4. Sweet Potatoes

In addition to beta carotene, sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin C, B6, manganese, potassium, and fiber. Also, sweet potatoes may enhance your memory! According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "Rats who ate purple-fleshed sweet potatoes showed significant improvement in cognitive function, which may be attributed to the anthocyanins present in the potato." More studies are needed to determine if this also applies to humans, but those results are certainly promising! 

5. Oranges

In addition to being a great source of vitamin C, oranges contain citrus flavonoids that have numerous potential health benefits. According to SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life, "Citrus flavonoids have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth, strengthen capillaries, act as anti-inflammatories, and they antiallergenic and antimicrobial. Flavonoid intake is inversely associated with the incidence of heart attack and stroke as well as a host of other ailments."

Why Citrus Fruits May Be One Of The Best Cancer Fighting Food Types

Promising studies suggest that naturally occurring substances in citrus fruits may have powerful cancer fighting properties. According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "In laboratory tests, citrus limonoids have been shown to fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach, and colon, and human neuroblastoma tumors, which occur most often in children. Next to cranberries, lemons exerted the highest antiproliferation activities on vitro human liver cancer cells. Because of limonoids' ability to stay in the bloodstream for an extended period of time, researchers believe that they may be better suited for suppressing cancer cell growth than other nutrients (In comparison, phenols in green tea typically stay in one's system for only four to six hours)." 

Seasonal Eating: 15 Fruits & Vegetables To Eat In Jan/Feb

While many varieties of fruits and vegetables can be found in supermarkets year round, loading up on produce when it is in season is always a smart choice! It's often fresher, better tasting, higher in nutrients, and cheaper. Here are 15 delicious fruits and vegetables to eat in January and February! Also, don't forget to follow Eat Groovy on Twitter (@EatGroovy) and Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/eatgroovy/) for lots of great healthy eating tips!

1) Kale

Spinach vs Kale: Which Is Healthier?

2) Brussels Sprouts

3 Great Reasons To Eat Brussels Sprouts!

3) Cauliflower

How to Make Garlic Roasted Cauliflower - Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe!

4) Grapefruit

5) Turnips

6) Oranges

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Oranges!

7) Tangerines

8) Cabbage

9) Clementines

10) Parsnips

11) Broccoli

5 Reasons Broccoli Is Good For You

12) Beets

13) Pears

14) Leeks

15) Lemons

Why Is Getting Enough Vitamin C So Important?

3 Great Reasons to Drink Orange Juice

1. Orange juice contains lots of vitamin C.Vitamin C, is a water-soluble vitamin that helps produce collagen and strengthens the immune system. Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and helps maintain bones, teeth, gums, and blood vessels. It helps protect against heart disease, stroke, cataracts, and diabetes. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant and helps you properly use other vitamins and minerals such as folic acid and iron. Because vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, and is not stored in the body, it is important to consume vitamin C-rich foods each day.

2. Did you know that orange juice can improve your mood? The smell of citrus can trigger a mood enhancing effect in your brain. Who doesn't want to be in a better mood?

3. It's absolutely delicious!

List of 10 Foods Very High in Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that helps produce collagen and strengthens the immune system. Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and helps maintain bones, teeth, gums, and blood vessels. It helps protect against heart disease, stroke, cataracts, and diabetes. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant and helps you properly use other vitamins and minerals such as folic acid and iron. In no particular order, here is a list of 10 foods that are very high in vitamin C.

1) Red Hot Chili Peppers
2) Thyme
3) Bell Peppers
4) Oranges
5) Broccoli
6) Kale
7) Papayas
8) Strawberries
9) Kiwifruit
10) Brussels Sprouts

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Oranges

1. Orange is the world's third favorite flavor after chocolate and vanilla.

2. Brazil is the world's leading orange producer.

3. One orange supplies a full day's vitamin C recommendation. Oranges are also high in antioxidants.

4. The bigger an orange's navel the sweeter it will be.

5. Orange trees are evergreens.