Surprising benefits of oranges

Orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, but it doesn’t stop there. The health benefits of drinking orange juice may go far beyond that. According to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, orange juice can decrease the inflammation that occurs after eating a meal high in fat and carbs. This could play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes in people who eat an unhealthy diet.

What happens when you eat a fatty diet or one that’s too high in simple carbs? This type of diet causes an inflammatory response which, over time, can damage blood vessels and lead to plaque build-up and heart disease. A high fat and carb meal also contributes to insulin resistance – a forerunner to heart disease and diabetes. Can drinking orange juice keep this inflammatory response under control?

Researchers gave a group of participants a high fat, high carb meal and allowed them to wash it down with either water, glucose-water, or three cups of orange juice. After eating the meal, the group had blood samples drawn. The results? The group who drank orange juice had fewer blood markers of inflammation than those who drank either water or glucose-water. They also formed fewer cell damaging free radicals. The good news? Drinking orange juice blunted the characteristic inflammatory response that comes after eating an inflammatory meal of carbs and fats – making a not so healthy meal a little less of a problem.

Drinking a glass of orange juice a day can keep your skin glowing and keep cold away. Orange juice is known to contain a high percentage of Vitamin C, which is helpful in boosting the immune system.

So, you will be less likely to catch various illnesses, such as cold or flu. Also, medical studies show that orange juice may help lower both cholesterol and blood pressure levels.