Orange Juice: Sweet, Nutritious and Health Booster

Orange Juice: Sweet, Nutritious and Health Booster

Orange juice is a health booster, excellent refreshment, and a rich source of nutrients. It’s also a highly-sought culinary ingredient in modern recipes.

What is Orange Juice?

Orange juice is a sweet beverage extract from orange fruits. It’s extracted by squeezing or straining orange fruits, harvested from orange tree of citrus species. It has a natural sweet taste. However, this can vary depending on preparation methods and the variety of orange fruits used. Different fruit variations include navel oranges, blood oranges, mandarin oranges, tangerine, and Clementine oranges. Its sweetness also depends on the juice variation, such as the amount of juice and pulp used. It can be homemade for household consumption or commercially produced through pasteurisation. The fruit can also be eaten fresh.

Through commercial production, the juice loses most of its natural taste and sugar, thus the addition of artificial sugar and flavours. On the other hand, homemade or freshly squeezed juice is full of natural ingredients and maintains its natural taste. It’s a rich source of vitamins, minerals, body sugar, and other health and nutrition benefits. The juice can be as beneficial as eating the fruit whole, provided there are no artificial preservatives, sugar or additives used.

Sweet oranges are more popular than other citrus fruits, and for the right reasons. The fruits are considered to boost immunity, boost body metabolism and cellular repair, prevent cancer, enhance blood circulation, and reduce signs of aging. Its health benefits are endless, just named a few.

The history of oranges and use of citrus juice is as old as 5,000 years ago. Just like most citrus tree species, orange fruit originates from Southeast Asia, where it was used for medicinal and health benefits.

What Are the Health Benefits of Orange Juice?

Some amazing health benefits of citrus juice include improving eyesight, preventing kidney diseases, assisting in weight loss, preventing hair loss, and cleansing the skin. They can also lower cholesterol levels and balance nutrition during pregnancy. Their sweetness goes beyond refreshment on a hot summer day. Below are some of the evidence-based health and nutrition benefits of eating orange fruits and citrus juice.

Citrus fruits facilitate balanced nutrition. It’s rich in many nutrients, including potassium, moderate sugar and calories, protein, carbs, vitamin C, and folate. Vitamin C contains antioxidants that play a vital role in boosting the immune system and healing damaged tissues. Additionally, vitamin C promotes gum health and bone development. Citrus fruit is rich in folate, which facilitate healthy pregnancy and DNA synthesis.

Citrus fruits can help prevent kidney stones. The citric acid in orange fruits increases urine pH, making it more alkaline. According to studies, higher alkalinity in urine lowers the risk of kidney stones.

Oranges contain heart health benefits. According to medical studies, heart diseases account for about 17 million deaths worldwide annually. Oranges contain balanced sugar levels to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Also, it lowers “bad” cholesterol and increases levels of “good” cholesterol, which facilitate to heart health.

Orange-rich nutrition can help prevent cancer. Orange contains vitamin C and limonene, which can lower the risks of skin cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and mouth cancer. Additionally, oranges stimulate the digestive system, thus helping in the prevention and treatment of stomach ulcers.

Orange juice can help in losing weight. According to research, moderate levels of sugar and high antioxidants present in orange fruit helps control weight. These antioxidants include flavonoids and ascorbic acid. They help control blood sugars and cholesterol. Also, the fruit’s nutrition is high in fibre which helps keep the stomach full and reduce eating tendency.

Oranges can help cleanse the skin and reduce wrinkles. Like most citrus fruits, oranges are excellent sources of vitamin C and E, which facilitate regeneration of skin cells. They reduce skin scarring from spots and blackheads. They also repair damaged cells on the skin from sunburns. Studies suggest regular intake can reduce the visibility of wrinkles. Lastly, the anti-aging effect of citric acid helps detoxify the skin from toxins and impurities.

Citrus fruits can help improve eyesight. Vitamin A and carotene properties present in oranges enhance eye vision. Vitamin A protects cornea (the surface of the eye) against damaging and excessive light. It also strengthens the eye’s membrane for adequate protection against infections and bacteria.

Lastly, oranges promote balanced nutrition among other pregnancy healthy benefits. Oranges contain vitamin C, potassium, and folic acid, which are essential nutrients during pregnancy. Pregnant women should take at least two cups of fruit juice each day. Oranges are the more preferred fruit since they contain folate, which helps in DNA synthesis for the newborn. Also, it can help prevent risks of neural tube defects to the developing foetus. Potassium properties can help lower blood pressure often present in pregnant women.

Culinary Uses of Orange Juice

Oranges are excellent alternatives to vinegar in marinades. The natural citrus acidity tenderises various types of meat when used alongside different seasonings such as garlic, basil, or oregano. Oranges are also perfect for pickling vegetables alongside onions. They make great citrus graze in baked foods when combined with powdered sugar. The juice adds a distinctive citrusy flavour to baked cakes and bread. It can also replace vinegar when dressing salad by revitalising it and adding some nutrition value. Oranges make various smoothies such as carrot, yoghurt, blended greens, and bananas. There are many ways to use orange juice in the kitchen; it’s all about creativity and inspiration.

Where to Buy Orange Juice

Homemade orange juice, alongside its other variations such as blood orange juice, is available at Farmy online shop. It’s prepared from fresh fruits to maintain natural flavour and nutrition benefits. It’s cultivated organically by local farmers and free from added sugar and additives. Farmy ensures that customers can satisfy their sweet tooth with fresh, nutritional, and tasty juice of the highest quality level.