Pathologist has good news for anyone who drinks orange juice
Your daily orange juice fix could be helping you in more ways than you realise.
Scientists have discovered that the breakfast favourite could be doing more than just quenching your thirst, as per a recent study.
The research in question, which was published in the Molecular Nutrition & Food Research journal, found that regular consumption of orange juice can change the way thousands of genes in our immune cells work.
Many of these specific genes help calm inflammation, control blood pressure, as well as manage the way our bodies process sugar, with each of these factors playing an important role in our long-term heart health.
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Researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil, North Carolina State University and the University of California followed adults who drank 500ml of pure pasteurised orange juice every day for two months.
And lo and behold, after 60 days, many of the genes associated with inflammation and higher blood pressure had become less active.
And as reported in The Conversation by David C. Gaze, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Pathology at the University of Westminster, these genes included NAMPT, IL6, IL1B and NLRP3, which tend to switch on when the body is under stress.
One gene called SGK1, which affects the kidneys’ ability to retain sodium, became less active as well.
This is important because it potentially offers an explanation for why orange juice has been linked to better heart health in numerous scientific trials.
The study suggests that orange juice triggers small shifts in the body’s regulatory systems that reduce inflammation and help blood vessels relax.
On top of this, natural compounds found in oranges, such as hesperidin, appear to influence processes related to high blood pressure, cholesterol balance and the way the body handles sugar.
However, the response appears to differ with body size. The study found that people carrying more weight seemed to show more significant changes in genes involved in fat metabolism, while leaner participants showed stronger effects on inflammation.
And, according to an analysis of 15 controlled studies on 639 people, regular consumption of OJ can also reduce insulin resistance and LDL cholesterol.
Insulin resistance is a key indicator of pre-diabetes, while high cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease.
However, the researchers have cautioned that the study was small and lacked a control beverage so further research is needed.
The researchers wrote: "These findings reinforce the therapeutic potential of orange juice by providing unprecedented insights into the molecular mechanisms behind its health effects."
Another important point, as outlined by MailOnline, is that the study looked at 100 percent orange juice, meaning it contained no added sugar.
Fruit juices containing sugar, on the other hand, have been linked to weight gain and an increased risk of conditions like diabetes.
We do know though that OJ has a slew of health benefits, with Healthline explaining that it's naturally high in nutrients like vitamin C and potassium.
Vitamin C helps promote bone formation, wound healing, and gum health.
Topics: Breakfast, Health, Life, Food and Drink, Science
Madison Burgess