A new study has revealed that drinking a glass of orange juice daily could be key to extending life and strengthening heart health.
Researchers from Brazil and California surveyed 20 adults and asked them to drink 17 ounces (about half a liter) of sugar-free orange juice, readily available in most grocery stores, daily for two months, reports the Daily Mail. They then took blood samples to check for changes in 1,700 different genes found in the body’s immune cells.
The team of scientists discovered that daily consumption of orange juice for two months led to changes in genes responsible for improving blood vessel function, metabolism, and inflammation, which could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The findings suggest that heart disease claims 1 million lives annually, making it the leading cause of death in America, writes the Daily Mail.
Experts who conducted the recent study noted that while it was small, it showed that antioxidants in the juice called flavonoids may contribute to altering gene expression related to inflammation and heart function.
While the study looked at sugar-free orange juices, juices with added sugar have consistently been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, as they lead to sharp spikes in blood sugar levels and inflammatory processes in the heart and blood vessels, emphasizes the Daily Mail.
The researchers wrote:
“These findings reinforce the therapeutic potential of orange juice, providing unprecedented insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying its health effects.”
The study, published in October in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, involved 20 healthy adults (10 women and 10 men) aged 21 to 36. Three days before the study began, participants were asked to limit their citrus intake to accurately measure the effect of orange juice. After this, each of them drank 500 milliliters of orange juice every day for 60 days.
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