Fresh orange juice is a familiar drink often touted as a refreshing and immune-boosting beverage. With exam season approaching, preparing fresh orange juice for your children is a great way to support them during this stressful and hot period.
**Orange Juice for Brain Health During Exams**
Orange juice has a refreshing sweet and tangy taste, and it offers more than just hydration. Drinking orange juice can boost overall health and lift the spirits of students facing the stress of exams.
With its high nutritional value, rich in vitamins, minerals, and energy, fresh orange juice is considered an extremely healthy drink during the hot season. When it comes to health benefits, fresh orange juice is the way to go, not the boxed variety.
Exam season usually coincides with hot weather, and the stress of exams can lead to increased cortisol levels in students. This stress hormone can affect essential bodily functions and cause weight gain, headaches, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels. Drinking orange juice can help reduce stress and promote relaxation, thereby managing both mental and physical health.
Drinking a glass of orange juice when feeling tense can instantly boost a student’s mood and reduce stress and anxiety. This is achieved by increasing serotonin levels in the body. So, on those tiring, hot study days, parents can offer orange juice as a natural pick-me-up for their children.
Additionally, orange juice aids in brain cell regeneration, improving memory and combating conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. The nutritional content of orange juice is impressive: calories: 112; protein: 2g; fat: 0g; carbohydrates: 26g; fiber: 0g; sugar: 21g. It’s also packed with vitamins, calcium, iron, folate, vitamin C, and carotenes, which have anti-aging properties and protect the skin from free radicals.
During exam season, the combination of hot weather and stress can lead to loss of appetite, making children more susceptible to illness and fatigue, which can impact their exam performance. Drinking orange juice regularly can boost their mood and energy levels, enhancing their focus on studies.
Oranges are also rich in fiber, so eating them directly supports digestion and helps the intestines absorb nutrients better, preventing constipation and reducing the risk of gastric ulcers. This is especially beneficial during the summer when digestive issues are more prevalent.
**How to Incorporate Orange Juice into Your Child’s Diet**
The best orange juice is freshly squeezed from ripe oranges, not the bottled variety. When buying oranges, choose fresh, mold-free, and undamaged fruit.
It’s preferable to eat oranges whole rather than juicing them, as you’ll gain more benefits. If you’re drinking orange juice daily, go for pure juice without added sugar, as sugar can negatively affect your child’s health.
When purchasing oranges, select those with intact stems, avoiding any that have fallen off or show unusual markings. Also, avoid oranges with dry segments, as they may have been treated with preservatives.
Consume orange juice one to two hours after a meal, avoiding mealtimes, especially when consuming seafood. Don’t mix orange juice with milk, and avoid drinking it on an empty stomach.
The best time to drink orange juice to maximize its benefits is in the morning or at noon. Always consume the juice soon after squeezing to retain its vitamin C content.
