If women consumed the recommended daily dose of folate before becoming pregnant and while pregnant, the American Dietetic Association says up to 75% of traumatic spine and brain birth defects in newborn infants could be prevented.

The folate found in Florida citrus fruit also promotes heart health and can decrease your risk of developing coronary heart disease. Eating fresh Florida oranges every day of your pregnancy to protect your baby’s health is a delicious habit you can follow for the rest of your life to protect your own health.

Next week, FloridaOrange.com will be sending out its final shipments of ripe, juicy, fresh-picked Florida Honey tangerines and Florida Temple oranges. Why not send a Florida citrus gift box to your favorite pregnant mom? Or if you’re pregnant, order a crate of your favorite Florida citrus fruit for yourself! Through March 31, 2012, you can save 10% on all orders of Florida citrus fruit on FloridaOrange.com by entering coupon code 7777 at checkout.

Grapefruit has an undeserved reputation for mouth-puckering tartness that is only true of highly-acidic grapefruit varieties, not those sold by FloridaOrange.com. High acid content gives grapefruit, lemons and limes their tart taste. Some people like a fruit with kick, but most of us prefer to mix a little sweetness with our pucker. That’s why Florida grapefruit have been crossbred to create varieties that are deliciously sweet but still retain that desirable tangy zing.

• Florida Marsh White grapefruit have a sweet, mild flavor with just a hint of tang to wake up your taste buds. The perfect breakfast food, Florida Marsh White grapefruit are exceptionally sweet and juicy, making them an excellent choice for both whole eating and juicing.
• Florida Ruby Red grapefruit have a naturally sweet flavor that will have you wondering if you’re actually eating a grapefruit. Their juicy, blush-red flesh makes Florida Ruby Red grapefruit a colorful and tasty addition to salads and salsas.

Packed with vitamin C, B vitamins, folate, fiber and antioxidants, eating half a Florida grapefruit or drinking a glass of fresh-squeezed Florida grapefruit juice is a healthy way to start the day. Celebrate National Grapefruit Month by ordering delicious, sweet Florida grapefruit from FloridaOrange.com today.

We already know that adding fresh Florida oranges and Florida grapefruit to your daily diet can help reduce blood pressure and decrease cholesterol, but the latest research shows that it can also prevent heart failure. The magical heart-healthy ingredient in Florida citrus fruit is pectin. A soluble fiber, pectin attracts the cholesterol in the food you eat and blocks its absorption into the blood stream. The high potassium content in Florida oranges and Florida grapefruit also helps control blood pressure by counteracting the effects of salt.

Most recently, researchers have discovered that citrus pectin can be instrumental in preventing congestive heart failure. The pectin found in the pulp and pith of Florida oranges and Florida grapefruit neutralizes galectin-3, a protein that causes heart tissue to scar, eventually leading to congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is an eventually fatal progressive illness that does not respond well to drug therapy. More than 20% of Americans have high galectin-3, placing them at increased risk of developing congestive heart failure. A diet rich in fresh, whole Florida citrus fruit can help lower that risk.

Sweet, juicy and easy to peel, Florida Temple oranges are Florida’s finest eating orange. Their deep orange skin is easily removed, revealing a richly-scented fruit of superior texture and flavor. Dripping with sweet juice, Florida Temple oranges are a nutritious addition to your breakfast and make a refreshing mid-day treat.

With zipper-like skin and sections that seem to fall apart at your touch, Florida Honey tangerines are perfect for on-the-go snacking. Bright orange skins quickly peel off to reveal deep orange fruit that is bursting with honey-sweet juice.

Florida Temple oranges and Honey tangerines are prized for their delicious juice as well as whole eating. Fresh-squeezed juice can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days or frozen for long-term enjoyment. After defrosting, shake well to remix the juice.

Order your Florida Temple oranges and Florida Honey tangerines from FloridaOrange.com today!