ORANGE
Orange is grown in various parts and according to its growth in a particular area, its size, water content, taste also differ but its food value or nutritional value remains unaffected. Orange is a reservoir of vitamin ‘C’ and this increases resistance of the body. It is a citrus fruit, with acidulous and sweet pulp which is more sweet than citrus. Its skin (peel) is smooth and its oil glands are carved. Before use, in any form, its skin, seeds and fibres should be severed. It is used in raw and juice form, in custard and dessert. Its juice should always be used fresh and should never be stored in a fridge or kept exposed.
Its juice is a potent remedy to do away with, scurvy, gout rheumatism, cold, sun-stroke, heat-stroke, nervous emaciation and other allied disorders, stroke, high blood pressure, cough to restore and aid in body resistance, is anti emetic and a preservative and curative of nausea, vomiting and travel sickness. It improves complexion of skin, and also restores blood pressure to normalcy. It is a great restorative, invigorative and prophylactic fruit. Being citrus, it removes constipation, other toxins and foreign bodies from the body. Its juice is also diuretic, improves vision, is mild laxative (not a purgative).
If a glassful of juice, derived from fresh oranges, is taken in the morning, it will set in order digestive system, restore lost health and promote general well-being. If taken before meals, it will remove anorexia but, if taken after meals, it will help in digesting the ingested eatables and drink. It is a great appetiser also. Having reasonable sugar content (Fructose), it can be taken, though in moderate quantity, by diabetics also. It is an excellent fruit for heart patients, is easily digestible, builds up resistance.
Dr. H.H. Hane describes properties and uses of orange juice as “Sweet orange juice acts as a mild laxative and is effective during cough and cold, fevers, general debility, dimness of vision, anaemia, lassitude, constipation, scurvy and headache. It cures vomiting. It is very useful in low blood pressure.” After Dr. Home’s aforesaid observations, hardly any further elaboration is required to establish efficacy and utility of orange and its juice. Chronic drunkards and smokers, including chain smokers, are advised to dilute their drinks with orange juice.
Further, both, habitual smokers and drunkards, should take a glassful of orange juice when they will have their lost health restored and the side effects and bad effects will also stand to have less damaging effects. Moreover, orange juice will also cut down frequent alcohol intake; craving for alcohol and tobacco. Lemon juice also retards/delays aging process and suits all age groups, sexes and for almost all disorders.
LIME (MAUSAMBI; CITRUS AURANITIFOLIA)
It is rich, like orange, in vitamin ‘C and also vitamins AB,G, though in much lesser degree. It has green skin which is harder than that of the orange, has seeds and soft fibres which are meant not to be used while juicing or eating raw. It is a boon in health and diseased states. As it has minerals, amino acids etc., it is a great digestive appetiser, remover of anorexia, energizer, restorative, rejuvenative refresher and, above all, a general tonic for all ages, and sexes.
It flushes out waste products from the body and restores functional mobility of organs. It removes constipation, cough, cold, acidity, sour eructations, high blood pressure, scurvy, anaemia, restorative of recollective memory. It is a miracle fruit, having multiple advantages. It has a tangy flavour and is used in juice or raw form, but not used in baking, cooking and pickling.
Since lime is rich in minerals and vitamins, it is very useful in various respiratory diseases, like cold and cough, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis; in stomach and liver diseases, an excellent appetiser and invigorator of energy. It also cures dysentery, diarrhoea, spleen problems etc. lime juice is a time-tested remedy in jaundice. In sun-stroke and heat-stroke it wards off ill-effects thereof and serves as a protective shield for the body to withstand ravages of heat conditions. It is a blessing for small babies and pregnant women. If consumed in excess quantity it may even adversely affect digestion process; hence its use in moderate and reasonable quantities is advised.
Being a diuretic, it flushes out waste products from urinary passage by expelling foreign matter, keeping the urine in a uniform consistency, removing burning and causing free flow of urine. Of all the fruit juices, lime juice, perhaps, is the only sort of juice which is capable of curing gastric/peptic ulcers. It also rectifies intestinal disorders.
Take a glassful of lime juice, extracted from fresh lime pieces, at any time, but preferably before or after meals, as a matter of habit to derive maximum benefits. If a child (infant) is given fruit juice, alongwilh cereal intake, it will help his growth pace. “Mausambi juice is a very effective remedy for all sorts of stomach and liver troubles. It may be called ‘heal-all’, says F. Ramalay, in his book entitled ‘Plants useful to man’. R.B. Duckworth prefers to call it a ‘Miracle Fruit’.