Boosting your Immune Response with Freshly Juiced Oranges
Why drinking fresh orange juice boosts vitamin C and helps prevent viruses
The immune system protects the host from dangerous microorganisms. A weak immune system makes you more vulnerable to pathogens and permits infections to worsen. Inflammation is one aspect of the immune reaction. Excessive or uncontrolled inflammation can destroy host tissues and lead to infections. One way to manage inflammation is to limit oxidative damage.
Citrus fruit juices are high in vitamin C and folate, which help to maintain the integrity of immune barriers and support the activity of phagocytes, natural killer cells, T-cells, and B-cells. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to decrease inflammation.
Drinking orange juice is thought to boost the immune system because it's high in immune-supporting elements like vitamin C and folate. Science is now confirming this.
According to recent research, natural compounds in citrus juice, such as orange juice, may improve immunity and reduce inflammation[1].
European researchers for this study assessed over 200 studies. The findings revealed that orange juice includes micronutrients and other bioactive substances that help to regulate oxidative stress and inflammation while also strengthening the immune system.
While vitamin C's link to a healthy immune system is well recognized, it was observed that when combined with vitamin C, Hesperidin, which is almost solely found in orange juice and oranges, might promote antioxidant activities in the body, which may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
HOW DOES CITRUS SUPPORT IMMUNE HEALTH?
- A single cup or 8-ounce glass of 100% orange juice delivers more than twice the recommended vitamin C intake daily.
- Vitamin C deficiency might lower immunity and make people more vulnerable to illnesses [2].
- Vitamin C isn't the only star component in 100 percent orange juice; the beverage also contains folate, which helps many different types of immune cells operate properly [3].
- Citrus fruit juices contain polyphenolic flavonoid components, which are natural chemicals that are thought to assist the immune system, in addition to vitamins. Hesperidin is the most prominent polyphenol in orange juice, but others such as narirutin and naringin are also significant. All three chemicals are anti-inflammatory. Anti-inflammatory components in your diet may provide some help because uncontrolled inflammation can damage tissues and lead to sickness[1].
- Many people prefer to take vitamin C tablets to help their immune systems, but many nutrients in food cannot be recreated in a tablet. In drinking orange juice, you're getting not only vitamin C but also folate, polyphenols, and other components that contribute to the immunological function. Furthermore, the hydration that orange juice gives can aid our immune health. For this and other reasons always prefer to receive nutrients from food sources rather than tablets whenever possible.
CAN DRINKING ORANGE JUICE PROTECT AGAINST VIRUSES?
Many people focus on keeping their immune systems strong to protect from viruses. While having a robust immune system isn't a guarantee that you won't become sick, it will help if you do.
According to the researchers, preliminary evidence suggests that consuming orange juice may protect against viruses. However, significant human clinical trials would be required to ascertain whether or not this is true. Some modeling experiments suggested that hesperidin, an antioxidant found in citrus, might interfere with the virus's entry into host cells, making infection more difficult to occur [4].
WILL ORANGE JUICE HELP YOU RECOVER FROM VIRAL INFECTIONS FASTER?
In the same way, laboratory investigations have discovered that hesperidin and naringenin, two important components contained in orange juice, can stop the virus from replicating [5]. While none of these findings are conclusive, this preliminary research implies that there is no harm in including orange juice in your diet.
Endpoint:
Orange juice is an antioxidant-rich beverage containing micronutrients like vitamin C, folate, and potassium. Regular use has been linked to various health advantages, including enhanced heart health, reduced inflammation, and a lower chance of kidney stones. If you want to boost your immune system's ability to fight infection, drink orange juice.
Always opt for juicing your oranges fresh with organic oranges when available, as this will provide you with the quality of available nutrients.
References:
- Miles, E. A., & Calder, P. C. (2021). Effects of Citrus Fruit Juices and Their Bioactive Components on Inflammation and Immunity: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in immunology, 12, 712608. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.712608
- Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211
- Gombart, A. F., Pierre, A., & Maggini, S. (2020). A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System-Working in Harmony to Reduce the Risk of Infection. Nutrients, 12(1), 236. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010236
- Wu, Canrong, et al. "Analysis of therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2 and discovery of potential drugs by computational methods." Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 10.5 (2020): 766-788. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32292689/
- Lin, C. W., Tsai, F. J., Tsai, C. H., Lai, C. C., Wan, L., Ho, T. Y., Hsieh, C. C., & Chao, P. D. (2005). Anti-SARS coronavirus 3C-like protease effects of Isatis indigotica root and plant-derived phenolic compounds. Antiviral research, 68(1), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2005.07.002
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