Orange juice, as you can probably guess, is the juice squeezed from the popular and delicious citrus fruit, oranges.
It is considered one of the healthiest beverages, due to its wide range of health benefits, including its ability to boost immune system function, reduce signs of aging, protect against cancer, increase cell repair, accelerate the metabolism and detoxify the body, it can also improve blood pressure, reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol levels.
Orange juice can be just as beneficial as eating the whole fruit, as long as it is 100% natural, and it is not loaded with preservatives, additives, and sugar. The closest thing to eating an orange would be drinking a glass of freshly squeezed unpasteurized orange juice. The skin and pulp in oranges have considerable health benefits, but you can get most of the more unusual nutrients and beneficial components from orange juice this way.
Health benefits of orange juice
In addition to the ideal state of ripening, the consumption of oranges is recommended during the cold winter months, especially because of the effect they have on our body.
Immune system
Oranges and orange juice have long been known as powerful healing properties, and one of the richest sources of vitamin C that can be added to a diet. Vitamin C works as a primary antioxidant in the body, and destroys or neutralizes free radicals before they can harm the body’s systems.
Cancer prevention
Vitamin C works as an antioxidant, and one of the most important functions of antioxidants is to prevent cancer, as various shades show. Antioxidants maintain healthy cell DNA from mutation into cancer cells, which is why antioxidants such as vitamin C are the first line of defense against cancer and other serious diseases.
Detoxifying properties
Along with vitamin C, orange juice is also very high in vitamin A, which acts as a moderate antioxidant. Beyond that, it detoxifies the body by increasing kidney function. Vitamin A has long been linked to eye health.
Improves circulation
Another very powerful aspect of oranges and orange juice is their folate content. Folate is a member of the B complex, technically it is vitamin B9. This important vitamin is essential in the creation of DNA and the growth of new cells.
Powerful antioxidant
In addition to the whole vitamin, oranges also contain many flavonoids. These are among the strong antioxidants and therefore are used to protect our cells. But flavonoids also support the body’s absorption of vitamin C and protect vitamin C itself from oxidation. Therefore, flavonoids make vitamin C available to the body in the first place; there is talk of a very high bioavailability of vitamin C through flavonoids.
Regardless of vitamin C, flavonoids stimulate the cardiovascular system and also support the immune system. Hesperidin, one of the many flavonoids contained in oranges, has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, effectively prevents cancer, and regulates cholesterol balance by lowering cholesterol and increasing the good HDL cholesterol, according to some studies.
Oranges are powerful detoxifying agents
The many terpenes in oranges help the body perform various protective and metabolic functions and thus keep it healthy. Carotenoids, the orange coloring matter, belong to the group of useful terpenes. The body can use them to produce vital provitamin A, which is responsible for the structure, function, and growth of the skin, mucous membranes, blood cells, vision, and metabolism.
The remarkable monoterpene limonene detoxifies the body of all natural and chemical substances, such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and other carcinogens. Thus, oranges are very good companions and guardians of diseases treated with drugs, especially in winter. Thanks to limonene, the body is rid not only of bacteria, but also of chemical residues of drugs.