Orange juice is a favorite breakfast drink of thousands of people. One glass of pure orange juice per day provides your body with numerous nutrients that your body needs. Doctors and nutritionists say that drinking one glass of orange juice fills one of your body's required 5 fruit and vegetable servings for the day. There are many different forms of orange juice, pasteurized, non-pasteurized, with or without pulp, etc. Fresh squeezed orange juice is the healthiest choice, as it will not have any additives and will be an all natural juice. If you must purchase orange juice look for 100% pure juice to ensure that you get the most benefit from your daily breakfast drink.
During cold and flu season orange juice plays an important part in helping maintain your immune system in addition to all the other health properties it has. This is due to the vitamins and nutrients found naturally in orange juice.
Folate
Folate is essential for a healthy immune system as it helps grow new cells. Folate is also known to lower homocysteine levels. Homocysteine contributes to inflammation and is thought to be related to coronary heart disease.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6, which helps maintain the health of the lymphoid organs that make white blood cells, is found in orange juice. One glass contains 7% of the daily value of this immune boosting vitamin.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, the sunshine vitamin, is one of the most powerful antioxidants. Found in orange juice, vitamin C is associated with maintaining a healthy immune system, and also neutralizing free radicals that cause cell and tissue damage and lead to diseases. Vitamin C is thought to help reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
Magnesium and Potassium
Magnesium and potassium are associated with lower blood pressure. Both of these are recognized by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute as being important to cardiovascular health.
Flavonoids and Carotenoids
Flavonoids that occur in certain plant foods and juices such as orange juice are the subject of studies which indicate that they have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
Carotenoids have anti-inflammatory properties and are considered to be precursors to vitamin A, which is used in the making of new cells and very important for immunity.
