Orange juice is rich in vitamin C and many other minerals. Supplementing orange juice has become a habit of many people and families because it is believed to be a drink that boosts immunity and protects health. Orange juice is also commonly used when people feel unwell. However, drinking orange juice in the following ways is very toxic:
Drinking orange juice when eating seafood
Many people want to overcome the fishy taste of seafood, so they drink orange juice with their meals, immediately after eating seafood. This is a dangerous combination that can be life-threatening. It is because seafood such as shrimp, crabs, squid, etc., besides nutrients, also have the risk of arsenic contamination from the environment. The amount of arsenic varies depending on the region and farming area. When arsenic in seafood combines with vitamin C in orange juice, it reacts to form arsenic trioxide, which can cause poisoning and dangerous complications. Arsenic trioxide is a substance that can kill quickly, used to kill pests, and rats. This combination is very dangerous because you will not know if the seafood you ate that day is heavily contaminated with arsenic. Eating seafood with fresh orange juice is even more dangerous. Furthermore, this combination, if fortunately does not cause arsenic poisoning, also makes it difficult to absorb proteins, zinc, calcium, etc.
Mixing orange juice with milk
Mixing orange juice with milk is a popular way for many people, especially for children, to enhance the taste and make them drink it more easily. However, this combination is a mistake because the protein in milk reacts with tartaric acid and vitamin C in orange to form precipitates. This makes digestion difficult, hinders absorption, and can cause bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. In children, this combination can cause acute diarrhea. People with poor digestion also often experience diarrhea when combining these two. Therefore, do not drink them together, do not drink them close to each other. It is recommended to drink orange juice and milk at least 1 hour apart.
Drinking orange juice while taking antibiotics
Orange juice contains many acids that can break down the structure of antibiotics, reducing their effectiveness. Therefore, avoid drinking orange juice with antibiotics. Orange also contains a substance similar to narigin, which inhibits the activation of drug transport enzymes. As a result, the body may have difficulty absorbing the full amount of the drug, prolonging the illness. In addition to antibiotics, you should also avoid drinking orange juice while taking blood pressure medication, allergy medication, and ulcer medication. Therefore, you should drink them at least 2 hours apart or wait until the antibiotic treatment is complete before supplementing with orange juice to strengthen your immune system.
Drinking too much orange juice
Orange juice is good, but more is not better. Drinking too much orange juice can cause the body to not absorb all the vitamin C and can also stimulate an increased risk of stomach ulcers. The vitamin C needs of men are 90mg per day, women are 80mg per day, and this number increases to 120mg per day when breastfeeding. Therefore, you should only drink a cup of pure orange juice, about 250ml, and children should only drink half a cup. Orange juice also has a high sugar content, so drinking too much can increase blood sugar levels.
Drinking orange juice before bedtime
Orange juice has a diuretic effect. Therefore, drinking orange juice close to bedtime can make it difficult for you to sleep because you have to wake up to urinate during the night. Especially for adults, it is not recommended. People with insomnia should also avoid drinking orange juice shortly before bedtime. Drinking orange juice before bedtime can also increase sugar levels and cause fatigue during sleep.
