Freshly squeezed orange juice is one of the best beverages you can add to your morning diet for a burst of antioxidants, Vitamin C, and a wealth of nutrients like folate, and potassium. Sweet and tangy, a glass of refreshing orange juice can give a big boost to your immune system, provide you with instant energy, and elevate your heart health, skin health, brain health and protect against kidney stones. However, one should be careful not to have store-bought orange juice with added sugar or artificial sweeteners, and other chemicals and preservatives that can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Here are some wonderful benefits of orange juice.
Boosts immune system
A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice every morning can provide you with a generous dose of Vitamin C that can keep your immune system strong and prevent you from infections like common cold or flu. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, orange juices boost immunity, as they are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps improve the immune system by fighting injections and healing wounds.
Improves heart health
Orange juice consumption is linked to improvements in blood pressure and HDL cholesterol levels, both of which are risk factors for heart disease, found a review published in the journal Food and Function.
Keeps you hydrated
A glass of orange juice has 88% water, which can keep you hydrated. Besides, it also has nutrients like potassium, vitamins, and antioxidants, which can nourish your body and brain.
Digestive Health
Orange juice contains dietary fiber (especially if you choose pulpy varieties), which aids in digestion and promotes gut health.
Instant energy
According to a study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, orange juices can improve sugar levels, which gives your body instant energy. Orange juices are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which reduce stress and are a quick source of energy.
Improves cognitive health
Studies have shown that orange juice is a beneficial addition to your diet for your cognitive health. Adults who consume orange juice regularly seem to have better cognitive functions like sharp memory, excellent vocabulary, and fast responses. Orange juice helps to promote brain health.
It must be remembered that in the process of juicing, many vitamins and dietary fibres may be lost, and that the nutritional value of fruit juice can lower than fruits. Eating whole fruits must be preferred over fresh juices as the fibre in them is very high compared to a glass of juice.
Juicing mistakes to avoid
It is to be noted that people with diabetes must prefer whole fruit rather than orange juice as the latter has a glycemic index (GI) of 66–76 out of 100, which is considered high. Drinking orange juice can cause a significant increase in blood sugar levels, which can cause sugar spikes.
While squeezing a glass of fresh orange juice for you, do not add sugar and let them be naturally sweet.
Try to consume the juice immediately after squeezing them as keeping them for long can lead to loss of nutrients.
Do not forget to remove seeds before extracting juice as some fruit seeds can be harmful to health.
