Because it is well-known and popular, orange can be considered the national fruit. But are you certain that you currently understand everything and own the ideal orange juice recipe? If so, then read on as we find out together!
Making freshly squeezed orange juice from scratch may require a little more work than buying a juice box from the store, but the flavor and freshness are incomparably superior. Fresh orange juice is fruity and sweet, much sweeter than any orange juice made “from concentrate” and sold in stores, and it doesn’t contain any extra sugars or other “nasty” ingredients.
Additionally, you can decide whether you want orange juice with pulp or without it while producing it at home. Not to mention that it contains many vitamins and has other health advantages. Juice made from oranges straight from the fruit has never tasted better than sugar-free orange juice!
Oranges’ benefits you did not expect
Rich in a number of vital nutrients
Among the components included in orange juice in high amounts are vitamin c, folate, and potassium.
An 8-ounce (240-ml) serving of orange juice has roughly the following nutrients:
Vitamin c, a water-soluble vitamin that is also a potent antioxidant and is essential for immune system health, is high in orange juice.
Vitamin c also aids in the development of bones, the healing of wounds, and gum health.
The vitamin folate, which is important for the synthesis of dna and for fetal growth and development, is also abundant in orange juice.
Not to mention that it is a great source of potassium, a mineral that controls blood pressure, inhibits bone thinning, and guards against heart disease and stroke.
High antioxidant content
Orange juice antioxidants protect against oxidative damage, which results from an imbalance between antioxidants and unstable chemicals known as free radicals.
Antioxidants, according to research, are essential for preserving general health. They might even aid in preventing chronic illnesses like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Flavonoids, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid are among the antioxidants that can be found in abundance in orange juice.
Drinking 25 ounces (750 ml) of orange juice per day dramatically boosted antioxidant status, according to an 8-week study.
Similar results were found in a another study, which found that giving 24 adults with high cholesterol and triglyceride levels 20 ounces (591 ml) of orange juice daily for 90 days boosted their total antioxidant status.
Additionally, orange juice was ranked among the top sources of antioxidants in the typical american diet in a study involving over 4,000 adults, along with tea, berries, wine, supplements, and vegetables.
Might reduce the risk of kidney stones
Small mineral deposits called kidney stones build up in your kidneys, frequently resulting in symptoms like excruciating pain, nausea, or blood in your urine.
Orange juice can make urine more alkaline by raising its ph. According to studies, having an alkaliner, higher urine ph may help to prevent kidney stones.
One short study found that various kidney stone risk variables were better reduced by orange juice than by lemonade.
Those who drank orange juice at least once a day had a 12% lower risk of developing kidney stones than those who drank less than one serving per week, according to a different study involving 194,095 people.
Might strengthen heart health
Heart disease is a critical issue because it causes more than 17 million deaths annually in the world.
According to several research, consuming orange juice may help keep your heart healthy and strong by lowering numerous risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure and raised cholesterol.
For instance, one study including 129 individuals discovered that regular drinking of orange juice reduced levels of both total and “bad” ldl cholesterol.
In addition, a meta-analysis of 19 research found that fruit juice consumption helped people lower their diastolic blood pressure, which is the lowest number in a reading.
Additionally, orange juice has been demonstrated to raise “good” hdl cholesterol levels in persons with elevated levels, which may benefit heart health.
Might reduce inflammation
An immune response that is natural and intended to protect the body from sickness and infection includes acute inflammation.
On the other hand, persistently high levels of inflammation may aid in the emergence of chronic illness.
C-reactive protein (crp), interleukin-6 (il-6), and tumor necrosis factor (tnf) levels that are elevated have all been linked to diseases like metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and several malignancies.
According to several research, orange juice may lessen inflammation and the issues it causes.
Orange juice has anti-inflammatory characteristics, which may lower levels of particular inflammatory markers linked to chronic disease, according to one review.
Additionally, an 8-week study of 22 individuals revealed that consuming orange juice, whether it be fresh or commercial, reduced inflammation indicators like crp and il-6, which may help in disease prevention.
A recipe for orange juice
Use a juicer
Peel the oranges first to prepare them. After that, cut them into tiny pieces to suit the funnel of your juicer.
Feed a few at a time into your juicer chute, and presto!
Making a blender
Peel the oranges and, if desired, remove and discard the seeds (this step is unnecessary if you plan to strain the juice).
Orange segments should be added to a blender. If necessary, you can add a little water to assist them mix (around 1/4 cup should do the trick without diluting it too much).
Blend until pulpy and luscious in texture. Then strain the resulting pulpy juice through a sieve or nut milk bag, or you can leave it as is if you prefer orange juice with pulp (which also provides additional nutrients).
Utilizing a handheld juicer
Most likely, there is little need for more explanation. Simply cut the fruit in half, set it over the juicer, press down, and squeeze while revolving back and forth to extract as much juice as you can if you have a citrus juicer at home.
After extracting the juice from the remaining orange, simply spoon some pulp into your glass to make orange juice.
Storage methods
It is recommended to drink freshly squeezed orange juice right away to get the most nutrients. However, any leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days in an airtight glass container.
How to care for any left-over pulp
For subsequent use in smoothies, broths, or baked items, orange pulp can also be frozen into ice cube trays. The pulp can additionally be composted.
How to use the remindered peel
Remaining orange skins
Some of the skin can be zested and added to food or used to flavor sugar, tea, and lemonades. You may also create candied orange peel or, if the orange halves are in good shape, use them to make orange candles.
Additionally, you can create your own homemade all-purpose citrus cleanser using the leftover peels.