Orange Juice Health Benefits

A refreshing glass of orange juice with a hearty breakfast does wonders for the body’s spirits and its immune system. Considered an iconic symbol of dieting and healthy food habits, the tall glass of chilled freshly squeezed orange juice is what you look forward to after a grueling workout at the gym or a long swim in the beach. An eight ounce glass of orange juice has only 122 calories, but it is packed with energy-giving fructose and immunity building vitamin C that keeps you hale and hearty. Oranges come in many varieties, from the small mandarins and clementines to blood oranges, Hamlins and Valencias, all of which are grown in the US and around the world. The skin of an orange varies in color according to the variety and the thickness of the skin may be different for each type of orange. More on orange health benefits

Every glass of orange juice is a powerhouse of vital nutrients that promote good health, as borne out by established orange juice nutrition facts.

The high levels of vitamin C is one of the chief benefits of orange juice as it helps to ward off various viral infections like colds, flu, etc. Drinking orange juice with the pulp helps to reduce cholesterol levels in the body. A variety of phytonutrients are present in oranges, and when they combine with the vitamin C, it enhances the fruit’s antioxidant properties and thus reduces the damage caused by free radicals. Research has shown that drinking orange juice leads to better antioxidant protection than drinking other liquids fortified with vitamin C, underscoring the importance of the phytonutrients in orange juice. Caretenoids, flavanoids, potassium, folate and vitamin C in orange juice contribute towards greater protection against cardiovascular diseases stroke and certain types of cancer. Oranges and orange juice can be used in a number of innovative ways to make salads, salad dressings, marinades, cocktails, and marmalades. Cakes, pies, cookies and breads spread the aroma of the oranges and orange juice used in them even as they bake. Orange juice chicken, orange-flavored butter, and orange juice pancakes are favorites of millions around the world. Using a manual citrus juicer is the easiest way to learn how to make orange juice. Nothing can be easier than cutting an orange into two halves and pressing a half on the top of the juicer. The juice gets collected in the cup at the bottom and the seeds and skin stay strained on the top part. Fresh, tangy and full of flavor, the sweet-tart juice can be sipped as it is or diluted with water or sweetened with sugar. Calories in orange juice are likely to be high if your orange juice recipe calls for sugar to sweeten it. Orange juice concentrates available in the market can be high in sodium and may contain flavoring agents and preservatives.

Fondly referred to as OJ or “liquid sunshine”, orange juice is a popular health drink around the world. Its refreshing taste and its active protection to the body from various diseases from cancer to arthritis pain makes it a must have food in our regular diets. It must be remembered, however, that orange juice is acidic and may not be suitable for those with digestive tract problems like ulcers. It is also true that too much orange juice may allow the acid from the juice to damage the teeth and lead to cavities. Washing the mouth after drinking orange juice can take care of this problem. An orange juice diet that requires a person to drink just the juice for two weeks may help to detoxify the body, but it may also lead to heart burn and hyper acidity in some. The body needs other nutrients besides those found in orange juice.

Submitted on May 31, 2011