Orange juice sounds healthy; after all, it is 100% fruit. But is orange juice really as healthy as we think? In this article, we list the pros and cons of a glass of fresh orange juice.
Orange juice is a source of vitamin C
Oranges, and also orange juice, are high in vitamin C. This is a vitamin that acts as an antioxidant in the body and is needed for the formation of connective tissue, maintaining resistance and iron absorption. Exactly how much vitamin C is in an orange depends on the variety, growing conditions of the fruit and transportation. Some of the vitamin is also lost during juicing. However, freshly squeezed juice does contain more vitamin C than juice from concentrate, which you often find in supermarkets. One glass of freshly squeezed juice contains two-thirds of the recommended amount of vitamin C, while an orange contains 80%.
That’s how much sugar is in a glass of fresh orange juice
Orange juice not only contains vitamins that are good for you, but also lots of sugars. Did you know that a glass of orange juice contains about as much sugar as a glass of cola? The difference here is that orange contains fructose naturally, while cola is added sugars. Drinking a 200-millilitre glass of juice will give you an amount of sugar comparable to four or five sugar cubes. Now you’re probably thinking: isn’t the same with eating an orange? No, it is not the same, because the sugar is gradually released into your blood after eating, making it healthier.
Fibre in orange juice
Oranges contain fibre, which is mainly found in the flesh. Fibre is found in many foods and is not only good for your bowels and bowel movements, but can also lower your LDL cholesterol. However, when you squeeze oranges, you get much less of this fibre. Because they are in the flesh, they are often lost. When eating an orange, you do get these fibres.
Is orange juice bad for your teeth?
Orange juice contains not only sugars, but also acids. Both substances can damage your teeth and cause cavities, for example. So it is important not to drink fruit juice, including orange juice, e often to protect your teeth.
Which is better: drinking orange juice or eating an orange?
In general, it is healthier to eat an orange than to drink a glass of orange juice. In both cases you get vitamin C, although this is slightly lower with juice, but for the other substances eating is better. By eating an orange, the sugar is gradually absorbed into your blood and you get fibre, which is not the case with juice. Do you decide to go for juice anyway? Then it is best to choose freshly squeezed juice and not juice with added sugars from the supermarket.