It’s a well-known fact that orange juice and other citrus fruit juices are healthy, refreshing and really good source of vitamin C and other antioxidants. Tarty, delicious and delightful, a glass of fresh orange juice is an instant mood and energy booster. You can pair it with your breakfast or have it after a gruelling gym session. In addition to being a refreshing drink, orange juice is a bundle of vitamins, nutrients and essential minerals. No wonder, it is such a favourite among the health and fitness enthusiasts. But did you know that drinking a glass of orange juice daily may cut your risk of deadly strokes? Yes, you heard us! Having orange juice daily reduces the risk of having a stroke by almost a quarter, suggests a study – published in the British Journal of Nutrition. The findings of the study revealed that people who consumed the juice each day saw a reduction in the risk of a brain clot by 24 percent, the Daily Mail reported. Further, the rates of heart disease were also reduced in regular drinkers, who were 12 to 13 percent less likely to suffer with damaged arteries.Orange juice is enjoyed around the world.It’s made by squeezing oranges to extract the juice, either by hand or using commercial methods. It’s naturally high in vital nutrients, such as vitamin C and potassium. Plus, commercial varieties are often enriched with calcium and vitamin D.Another study had similar findings, reporting that drinking 20 ounces (591 ml) of orange juice daily for 90 days increased total antioxidant status in 24 adults with high cholesterol and triglycerides.Plus, in a study in over 4,000 adults, orange juice was considered one of the top sources of antioxidants in the average American diet — alongside tea, berries, wine, supplements, and vegetables .Orange juice can increase the pH or urine, making it more alkaline. Studies show that having a higher, more alkaline urinary pH may aid in preventing kidney stones. One small study observed that orange juice was more effective than lemonade at reducing several kidney stone risk factors. Nonetheless, there’s controversy regarding whether or not it contributes to a healthy diet.Antioxidants in orange juice promote health by preventing oxidative damage — an imbalance between antioxidants and unstable molecules known as free radicals.Research shows that antioxidants are crucial to maintaining overall health. They may even help protect against chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Fresh fruit juices have long been thought of as healthy. But consumers in recent years have been put off by warnings over their high sugar content. The researchers noted that the health benefits in terms of stroke prevention could outweigh the risks from sugar content. “We found a favourable association with pure fruit juice consumption,” said researchers from the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health. It’s not just orange juice that has this benefit, other fruit juices also appear to cut the risk, they noted. However, the team said despite the obvious benefits of juice, they would still recommend eating whole fruit as well, as there are more studies confirming its benefits.
Here Are A Few Other Benefits Of Orange Juice:
1. Boosts Immunity: Orange juice is packed with vitamin C, which helps boost your immunity and keep you protected from cold, flu and other inflammatory diseases.
2. Skin Health: Orange juice is oozing with antioxidants, most significantly vitamin C, which plays a crucial role in fighting free radical activity. Free radical activity could make your skin dull and also promote wrinkles and ageing. The abundant quantum of vitamin C present in orange juice could help give you a youthful and radiant skin.
3. Weight Loss: Orange juice is incredibly low in calories and has zero fat, which makes it an excellent option if you are looking towards shedding that extra kilo or two. However, nutritionists often advise eating a whole orange over juicing one.
4. Strong Bones: It is a known fact that the calcium content in orange is legendary, which is incredible for your bone health. But, did you also know that orange is also profuse with flavonoids like naringenin and hesperidin, which are anti-inflammatory in nature and can help relieve arthritis pain.
5. Kidney Stones: According to the book ‘Healing Foods’ by DK Publishing, “oranges have high concentration of citrate, meaning drinking orange juice can help breakdown calcium oxalate stone formation and induce relief from the pain occurring due to kidney stones.”
