How and why did halftime oranges become a tradition in junior sports?

Eating oranges during halftime was a treat popular and a long tradition of junior sports in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

They are also regularly eaten by professional athletes in competitions such as the Australian Football Leagueas well as the National Basketball Association And National football competition (NFL) in America.

Basically the game of the NFL operating manual states that each home team must provide “three dozen sliced ​​oranges for halftime” to the visiting team, as well as other items such as ice, coffee and gum.

But why are we doing this? And how did it start?

Origin of oranges in sports

The exact origin of this relationship between oranges and sports is difficult to determine.

According to the American company Florida Fruit Shippers, eating oranges has been a tradition in England since the Middle Ages fifties.

Another proposed origin story, from the American youth soccer organizationThis tradition started with a donation from a supportive local citrus farm.

It has also been suggested that it may have originated in Australia and Britain during the Second World War, due to government concerns about this poor nutrition after rationing.

Similar to what students are taught free milk to help prevent diseases, such as ricketsthey were also given oranges to help with vitamin C and iron deficiencieslike vitamin C has been shown improve iron absorption from plant sources.

Benefits of eating oranges

Fruits such as oranges contain carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals; Carbohydrates are important in providing energy, while vitamins and minerals are important in growth and development.

Together these nutrients contribute to the good health.

In Australia, only about two-thirds of children under the age of 18 eat the recommended portions fruit. For good health, you should try to eat at least two servings of fruit every time day.

Encouraging children to eat fruit can improve their health and sports performance.

To help children perform in junior sports, it is important to provide healthy snacks that help them play their best.

Choosing fruit during halftime (or quarters) is a great way to increase fruit intake. There are also benefits to eating oranges over lollipops, which only contain added sugar.

An advantage of oranges (along with watermelon, strawberries or grapes) is that they contain large amounts water. This can help you stay hydrated, which is essential for all sports at all ages.

Another advantage is that oranges contain natural sugars that provide energy during exercise. This makes them ideal snacks.

An average sized orange will be about sufficient 10–12 grams of carbohydrates via natural sugars. This carbohydrate is easily digestible and provides long-lasting energy.

In shorter duration sports there are extra bursts of it energy are not always essential, because muscle stores are depleted less quickly.

Although oranges are not essential for shorter duration exercises lasting less than 75 minutes, they can help with hydration, release energy and contain important nutrients. nutrients to help children stay healthy.

Plus, their natural sweetness can make them enjoyable.

Are there any disadvantages?

Despite the benefits of eating oranges, 15 years ago, Netball Queensland reportedly banned them during halftime.

The concern? Possible damage to children’s teeth due to the acidity of oranges. Coaches were encouraged to promote liquids instead of oranges to keep players hydrated.

While it is true that the increased consumption of fruits and fruit juices can damage teeth; eating a few orange slices during halftime is unlikely to cause this significant damage.

In reality, dehydration is a greater problem for dentists due to the resulting lack of saliva production.

Saliva helps protect the teeth against tooth decay and erosion. When saliva production decreases, so does the protection of the teeth.

Recently, some South Australian football clubs have done the same forbidden orangeswith some teams replacing them with lollipops. This shift seems to have come from parents talking to each other and deciding that a sugar hit is helpful.

But lollipops are often sticky, which means they stick to the tooth surface and remain there for a long time. This prolonged exposure to sugar increases the risk of tooth decay.

A fact sheet endorsed by Nutrition Australia and Australian Dental Association states that eating lollipops is not recommended for junior players.

However, not everyone has given up on oranges.

The Victorian Government’s Vic Kids Eat Well program continues to promote the idea of ​​”refuel with fruit“, encouraging junior players to snack on easy-to-prepare fruits such as sliced ​​oranges and apples.

They also suggest alternatives with lower acidity, such as watermelon or bananas.

So while it’s difficult to know exactly how, where, and why oranges have become so ubiquitous in sports, they do appear to serve a purpose for athletes of all ages and levels.

This article is republished from The conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.