Are Apples Or Oranges Healthier?

Okay, okay, we know what you’re thinking: this age-old question again? Well, yeah, we are asking, but this time it’s to really pick an answer. The fall season is quickly rolling around the bend and with it comes apple orchards, spiced everything and yes, the ever omnipresent sniffle and sneeze of the (dun, dun, dun) common cold. So when you want to boost your immunity and pack in the most vitamins and minerals as possible in one fruit serving, which sweet treat should you take a bite out of?

Apple nutrition

There’s no need to hit up an orchard or spend a day baking in the kitchen to dig into all that this juicy fruit has to offer. A medium-sized apple eaten with the skin on delivers antioxidant benefits that help keep our arteries clean, lower cholesterol levels and regulate blood sugar. Plus, the phytonutrients provide anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, which can aid those who suffer from asthma.

Apple calories

There are about 95 calories in 182 grams of apple.

How much fiber is in an apple?

While both apples and oranges contain a high amount of fiber, apples contain about 5 grams compared to the 3 grams in an orange. However, where the red piece of produce wins in the fiber category it falls short in every other nutritional area compared to its orange opponent. It’s higher in calories (not that we should obsess over fruit calories) and contains less potassium, folate and vitamin C. So while eating an apple each day might speed up our digestive system a little faster than an orange, it won’t necessarily live up to its tall tale of keeping the doctor away.

Orange nutrition

As much as we might love the crisp air, changing leaves and fresh attitude that comes with a new season, we often forget the evil stepsisters that tag along with the fall season: stuffy noses, scratchy throats and watery eyes from a trail of sneezes. Yep, allergies and the common cold can sure put a damper on our obsession of this newfound season, but that’s where we can enlist the help of an orange. This thick-skinned, juicy, peelable fruit provides an excellent source of vitamin C–nearly 140 percent of the daily requirement compared to only 7 percent in apples. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant that contains what the body needs to develop and repair tissue, blood vessels, bones and skin, so consuming as much as possible is a helpful way to ward off that sickness taking over the office.

Orange calories

There are 45 calories in just under 100 grams of orange.

In addition, oranges contain 72 mg of calcium and 326 mg of potassium compared to 7 mg of calcium and 117 mg of potassium in apples. These elements help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system by regulating the contraction of the heart muscle. While it might not contain as much fiber as the other tree-born fruit, its flu-fighting power makes up for it.

Apples vs oranges

A clear winner comes forth if you’re trying to boost your immune system before the winter hits. While apples contain more fiber, an important nutrient that aids in healthy digestion and lowering cholesterol, oranges provide more vitamins and minerals including the ever-powerful vitamin C. So, yes, you won’t lose by noshing on both juicy fruits, but an orange will set you up for more success in the season of battling the common cold. And that’s just sweet.