Orange juice makes a favorite drink for all. The sweet and tangy taste of it can please your taste buds and give your body a quick boost of energy. Be it winter, summer or monsoon orange juice can make a preferred and filling choice during any time of the season. However, as oranges are commonly available in India during winter, we tend to have more of this juice during this particular season.
The packed orange juice is available in the market all the year round, but these juices are not certainly the best choice for health. The packed orange juices, irrespective of their brands, are always added with artificial sweeteners and preservatives that do more harm to your body than good. So, to get the best health benefits of drinking orange juice, make it a point to have only the fresh juice prepared from fresh oranges.
This article will give you a clear idea about how drinking orange juice can give you a better health. First let us take a close look at the nutritional value of orange juice. Orange juice contains a range of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A and Vitamin C along with thiamine and folate are found in maximum amount in pure orange juice. The minerals that are available in plenty in orange juice includes, copper and magnesium. Apart from these vitamins and minerals, orange juice is also a good source of proteins, fiber and flavonoids. However, the percentage of all these ingredients in the orange can vary from the product of one field to another.
Health benefits of drinking orange juice
Promotes better cardiovascular health
Orange juice is good for your heart. Along with a number of other powerful antioxidants it also contains hesperidin which not only protects the body from oxidative damage and cancer but also promotes better functioning of the small blood vessels in the body. The action of hesperidin can be very effective to control blood pressure and this element can also reduce the risk of heart ailments. The natural ingredients present in orange juice also have the ability to reduce the bad cholesterol in the blood. As the bad cholesterol is reduced, automatically, the amount of good cholesterol is increased, which promotes not only a better heart health but total cardiovascular wellbeing.
Cures anemia
The folate content of orange juice makes it ideal and effective to fight anemia. Folate helps in the formation of the red blood cells and also stimulates the flow of blood in the body. Due to its folate content, orange juice is also considered as a great drink during pregnancy. Folate also helps in the proper neural development of the fetus and cures anemia in the expecting mothers.
Boosts the immunity system
A healthy and strong immunity system is the key to lead a healthy life. A healthy immunity system can keep you safe from all the common ailments and diseases. Orange juice has maximum vitamin C content and this vitamin is present in a form that is easily absorbed by the body. Vitamin C works as a primary antioxidant and helps in strengthening the immunity system. Vitamin C can also play a vital role in repairing the tissues and promoting cell defense.
Fights cancer
Drinking orange juice daily can reduce the risk of cancer significantly. Orange juice is filled with antioxidants like Vitamin A and Vitamin C that can prevent mutation of the DNA, providing efficient protection against cancer. Apart from Vitamin A and C, orange juice also contains hesperidin in considerable amount. Hesperidin has been directly related to reduction of tumor growth. This antioxidant can also boost the natural process of cell death in the tumor cells. So, including orange juice in your daily diet can certainly help to reduce the risk of cancer.
Might help in controlling blood sugar levels
Studies have found that orange juice might be effective to reduce the insulin resistance developed in the body cells, which is the primary cause of type 2 diabetes. Orange juice has anti-inflammatory effect on the internal organs of the body and this property of it might be helpful to increase insulin sensitivity leading to better control over the blood sugar levels in case of patients with type 2 diabetes.
Promotes better eye health
The high Vitamin A content of orange juice promotes better eye health. It helps in warding off diseases like night blindness in children and can also be helpful to offer a better vision in adults. A single service of orange juice, can meet around 50% of the daily amount of the Vitamin A needed by the body. So, for a better eye health, include this drink in your daily diet, irrespective of your age.
Helps in weight management
Orange juice made at home from oranges can also work as a great item for dieting. Being filled with water and dietary fibers in high amount it fills stomach quickly without adding much calorie to the body. The plenty of vitamins and minerals present in orange juice helps in curing any deficiency in the body, fine tuning the natural metabolism process. However, never bank on the packaged orange juices for weight management, as they invariably come with artificial sweetener that can easily ruin your weight loss goal.
Promotes better skin health
The high Vitamin C and Vitamin A content of orange juice makes it ideal for promoting better skin health. The antioxidants present in this juice helps in fighting the age related symptoms on the skin. So, drinking orange juice can be beneficial for beautiful and glowing skin too.
