If it is early in the morning and you are searching through your fridge, what is the most likely drink that you will pull out. Many drink chocolate milk, a soda, milk.  But the most common fruit juice that will be consumed in the morning is Orange Juice.

This shouldn’t be a surprise. The chance are that within the last week, you’ve had a few servings of orange juice. I know that I have.   On average, a consumer, drink 3 times more orange juice than the next closest juice – apple juice.

But, you might be asking yourself, besides the great taste, is their any health value to orange juice.

Compared to soda this is an easy yes. But you’d be surprised on how much of a health benefit there really is.  Let’s take a look at some of the health benefits that can be seen.

Improved Blood Pressure

A study that was published last year, indicated that a daily glass of orange juice could have improved effects in diastolic blood pressure.   The exact method is very scientific. In essences it illustrates that orange juices has many vitamins and minerals. One such, affects the small blood vessels and could improve the blood pressure.

Orange juice has also been linked to decreasing the risk of a patient in having a cardiovascular event.

Decrease of Bad Cholesterol

Bad cholesterol can be overproduced by the body or consumed through our eating habits. Orange juice is believed to help combat high cholesterol.

By doing so, the bad cholesterol can not subsequently attach to our arteries. In essence, we are helping to protect our heart from excess cholesterol.

Prevention of Neural Tube Defects

This condition is a serious condition where problems in the spinal cord and brain are seen in a new born. Folate or Folic Acid is the vitamin that when missing, causes Neural Tube Defect also refereed to as  a congenital defect because it happens before birth.  A daily dose of orange juice can provide a portion of the necessary daily dose of Folate.

Great Source of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an important a vitamin to prevent and protect against sickness, aging tissue, early aging, and tissue damage, among others.  Vitamin C can not be produced in the body. Therefore, it must be added to the body through external means. Consumption of Orange juice is a great source of this essential vitamin.

Protection against excess Inflammation

Additional studies have looked at the results of inflammatory responses within the body. This doesn’t look at or mean from injury, like a twisted ankle. But inflammatory responses means injury and in certain cases, inflammation can cause ill effects in the body.

Orange juice can prevent or control a measure of the inflammation. This again points to some of the minerals and vitamins inside orange juice.

Protection against Kidney Stones

It has been looked at as a prevention method, though not completely, against reforming certain kidney stones. This appears to be a preventative measure and it can not help current kidney stones. Those who drink orange juice, more than any other citrus juices are at less of a risk for kidney stones.

Remember to Drink in Moderation

More isn’t always better, especially when it come to orange juice.  Drinking 5 cups of orange juice or more, won’t necessarily mean better health. Moderation is the key. 1-2 cups of orange juice a day is quite satisfactory for maximal health benefit.

In addition, excess drinking can lead to diarrhea, weight gain, and other problems.

Teeth or dental issues can result. Acidity in the orange juice can cause cavities and teeth decay.

With or Without Pulp

This is an interesting question that relates more to a heartburn issues. There are many people who can not drink pulp due to burning in stomach. IT is also being debated whether pulp is better for your health. So far, nothing indicates one is better than the other, outside of prevention of heartburn.

Overall, remember Orange Juice appears to be a healthy choice.