Hospiten Blog

Oranges, Mandarin oranges and clementines start to ripen in October and can be picked until May. Thanks to cold storage facilities we can actually enjoy oranges all year round, but they are at their very best in winter when they reach optimum ripeness, making them sweeter and even more delicious.

So, having orange juice for breakfast helps us get a great start to the day, giving us energy, preventing colds and strengthening our immune system, doesn’t it?

Yes—and no.

Vitamin C is definitely important for a healthy immune system, but vitamin C supplements are unable to actually prevent or cure colds.

Citrus fruits are renowned for being rich in vitamin C, but do not have the highest vitamin C content of all foods. Broccoli contains twice as much vitamin C than an orange, while bell peppers have three times as much. Parsley has four times as much, though you would have to eat a large bunch to get the equivalent to an orange.