Discovering The Orange Juice: Health Benefits And Side Effects

Discovering The Orange Juice: Health Benefits And Side Effects

Everyone, both young and old, loves orange juice. It is the world’s most popular fruit juice, with so many brands around the world. Billions of metric tons of this refreshing beverage are manufactured every year from different parts of the world.

For orange juice lovers like me, I have the option to either buy orange juice at any grocery store of my choice or prepare my own using either my hands or an electric juicer at home. The most popular health nutritional benefit of orange juice is vitamin C, which is very common among kids.

The orange juice is often referred to as the American favourite morning beverage.  The United States Code of Federal Regulations gave its definition of orange juice as the unfermented juice obtained from mature oranges of the species Citrus sinensis or of the hybrid citrus called ambersweet.

Other species of oranges include the sweet orange, bitter orange, mandarin orange and blood orange.

The Different Types Of Orange Juice

When buying orange juice, it is essential to consider freshness, calories, colour, pulp, and the type of orange juice itself.

1. Fresh Orange Juice

This is the orange you make at home by yourself, either by squeezing the citrus fruit by hand or with a juicer. The good thing is that when you make it yourself, the orange won’t contain added sugar or preservatives like those made in factories.

2. Organic Orange Juice

Organic foods are food grown without the use of fertilisers and pesticides.  Foods grown organically must be certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA. So, for you to be sure that the organic orange juice you consume is really organic, it is best to check if it is certified by the USDA.

3. Frozen Orange Juice

Frozen juice concentrate is one of the most consumed types of orange juice.  The type of orange juice is best consumed by mixing cold water with the concentrate. This method was invented during the Second World War.

4. No Sugar Added Orange Juice

Have you ever picked up an orange juice at the grocery store to see 100% juice, no added sugar written on it? But some of these orange juices do contain added sugar; you need to watch out, because most of these packaged juices only contain a small amount of orange, and the rest is something else.

5. Pulp Added Or Pulp Free Orange Juice

Having pulp left in an orange juice provides fibre when consuming it. And these fibres help the body maintain digestive health and lower the risk of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, too.

What Nutrients Are There In Orange Juice

A glass of orange juice is packed with nutrients that are good for the body and health. and these nutrients include

• calories 110
• protein 2 grams
• fat 0.5
• carbohydrates 26 grams
• fibre 0.5
• sugar 21 grams

The key nutrients include

• vitamin C
• iron
• Orange juice is also packed with high amounts of thiamine (vitamin B1), folate (vitamin B9), and potassium.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Orange Juice

Orange juice is beneficial to human health in so many ways. The health benefits of orange juice include

• Orange juice fruit drink is good for the heart: cardiovascular disorders like high blood pressure, also known as BP, and high levels of cholesterol can be reduced if orange juice is consumed regularly, which helps to improve heart.
• Orange juice promotes blood circulation in the body: orange juice contains vitamin C that heals wounds, and keeps tissues and blood vessels healthy. The large amount of folate in orange juice helps in the formation of red blood cells and healthy cell growth.
• Orange juice fruit drink reduces the risk of kidney stones; orange juice raises the pH of urine, which makes it alkaline, and a more alkaline pH lowers the risk of kidney stones and their development.  Studies have shown that people who take orange juice every day have a 12% chance of developing kidney stones.
• Orange juice fruit drink keeps the muscles and nerves healthy: This fruit juice contains potassium, which is essential for maintaining muscle and nerve function. Potassium also regulates sodium and body fluid balance.
• Orange juice fruit drink reduces inflammation: the antioxidants in this fruit have anti-inflammatory benefits and the ability to reduce inflammation. Regular consumption of this fruit juice is very beneficial to the body.
• Orange juice fruit drink helps to boost immunity: drinking this fruit juice regularly provides the body with large amounts of nutrients like folate and vitamin C, which are stored in the body and support the function of immune cells like B cells, natural killer cells, and phagocytes.
• Orange juice fruit drink improves gut health: When you drink this fruit juice with the pulp, the fibre helps to improve gut health and fight bacteria, too.

What Are The Side Effects of Drinking Orange Juice Every Day

Drinking orange juice is good, but when taken in excess, it can have side effects on the body.  Here are the sides you should keep in mind.

Orange juice can make you gain weight: When you take an excess of this fruit juice, it can cause you to gain weight over time. This is because the fruit contains calories. For someone who drinks fruit juice three times a day,  studies have shown that it takes four weeks for their body fat to increase.

Orange juice can cause diabetes: the juice contains a high amount of sugar, and some have added sugars too. As a result, drinking the fruit juice too often can raise the blood sugar level, increasing the risk of diabetes.

It is advisable to drink juice once a day and take some fruits as a whole without juicing them.

How To Make Orange Juice Fruit Drink

• You can make orange juice at home using an electric juicer or by squeezing it with your hand.
• Get up to six oranges depending on how many servings of juice you want, size and ripeness.
• You can either squeeze the oranges by hand, with a hand-held juicer, or an electric juicer to make juice.
• Then you can use a blender and blend it, and remove the seeds because it can make the juice bitter. After blending, strain the juice through a sieve to remove the pulp, if desired. Alternatively, you can leave it with the pulp if you prefer.

You Might Have Questions Like:

1. Does Orange Juice Detox The Body

No, orange does not detox the body; it only contains antioxidants and other nutrients that promote a healthy body.

2. What Is The Best Time To Drink Orange Juice?

Taking orange juice with meals is the best way to have the drink. Especially in the morning

3. Can Orange Juice Reduce Body Fat

No, orange juice does not reduce body fat, but excess intake of it can cause weight gain

4. How Much Orange Juice Is Too Much

When you take orange juice up to three times a day, that can be too much

Conclusion

Orange juice is a healthy drink for both males and females.  Drinking it in moderation is the best way to take it. The fruit juice aids digestion when taken with the pulp in it.

It is advisable to stick to small amounts of not just orange juice but also other kinds of fruits because they contain natural sugars and calories that can cause weight gain and increase blood sugars.