Blood Oranges Fight Breast Cancer

Is Blood Orange the Best Citrus for Breast Cancer? Blood Oranges have a secret ingredient not found in any other citrus fruit. It’s a powerful antioxidant called C3G (cyanidin-3-glucoside) and it’s what gives them that brilliant red color and delicious tart taste. And researchers have recently discovered that C3G sharply reduces the ability of breast cancer cells to spread (by 71%) or attach to neighboring cells (by 80%)—both of which are required for metastasis to occur. Past studies have shown that citrus fruit may reduce breast cancer risk by up to 32%, but blood oranges may boost this protection even further owing to their C3G content. In general, the deeper red the orange is colored, the more C3G it’s going to have. However, a recent analysis showed that the highest levels of C3G are usually found in Moro oranges, followed by Tarocco and Sanguinello (which are the three main types). Blood oranges have even been tested in clinical trials, and found to improve arterial elasticity and reduce inflammation markers, thereby possibly reducing risk for heart disease (dose: two cups of blood orange juice daily for one week).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21034468