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Orange crush: why bother with plain old fruit when these exotic—and more nutritious—varieties can help rekindle your citrus passion?

Men's Fitness, Jan, 2005 by Shelley Drozd

Oranges are the (late) Rodney Dangerfield of fruit--they don't get any respect. But if you've had it up to here with the same-old, same-old "O" it's time to check out your other orange options, each currently making its way to your local market.

TYPE OF ORANGE:

PUMMELO

Tastes like: A sweet tart version of its distant cousin, the grapefruit.

Cool fact: The largest of all citrus fruits, this green giant can sometimes grow big enough to masquerade as a watermelon.

Why you should try it: Pummelos are a great diet food, high in both water and fiber, that'll keep you feeling full as long as possible after eating.

MORO

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Tastes like: A shot of OJ with a raspberry chaser.

Cool fact: Moros are nicknamed "blood oranges" because of their succulent deep-red pulp.

Why you should try it: To fight headaches and muscle pain. Moro oranges are filled with compounds called anthocyanins, potent plant pigments that protect your body from toxins and inflammation.

CLEMENTINE

Tastes like: A mixture of apricot nectar and canned mandarin oranges.

Cool fact: Clementines are the unwanted love child of an accidental tryst between an orange and a tangerine plant.

Why you should try it: Since they're small, seedless, and a cinch to peel and break into segments, Clementines are also the ultimate no-mess, portable fruit snack.

CARA CARA RED NAVEL

Tastes like: Fresh cherries with a tart cranberry zing.

Cool fact: The fruit gets its name from the flowers the Cara Cara tree produces--the tip of which resembles the human belly button.

Why you should try it: Cara Cara navels are the next best thing to a multivitamin, packed with the vitamin C you expect, plus cancer-fighting lycopene and vitamin A for healthy skin and Superman vision (minus the X-rays).

OROBLANCO

Tastes like: A grape-fruit, only sweeter and without the harsh, bitter aftertaste.

Cool fact: There's no need for these oranges to ripen. The green skin means go--the fruit is ready to eat.

Why you should try it: To improve your workout. Oroblanco oranges are loaded with thiamin, which helps promote muscle growth, maintain a healthy nervous system, and keep stamina levels running at their peak.

MINNEOLA TANGELO

Tastes like: At once bold, sweet, and super tart--the Nicole Richie of citrus fruits.

Cool fact: Tangelos are easy to peel and highly noted for their knobby ends, further advancing the Nicole theory.

Why you should try it: To avert future heartache. (Are you listening, Ms. Richie?) One "mini" will nearly top off your body's folate reserves, helping to clear your system of an artery-clogging substance called homocysteine and dramatically reducing your risk of all forms of cardiovascular disease.

Orange crush: why bother with plain old fruit when these exotic—and more nutritious—varieties can help rekindle your citrus passion?

Men's Fitness, Jan, 2005 by Shelley Drozd

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