Wake Up: Are oranges better than coffee?

By Kate Hassett

Wake Up: Are oranges better than coffee?
Looking to swap out your morning coffee routine? Consider reaching for a refreshing glass of orange juice instead to kickstart your day with a burst of natural energy.

Before you rush out of the office, or the home, for your usual mid morning coffee, try grabbing a freshly squeezed cup of orange juice instead – according to science.

Research conducted by Reading University and published in the European Journal of Nutrition, has found that orange juice can do more to boost alertness, concentration and reaction times, than your regular cup of joe.

More than an instant pick-me-up, orange juice can supply an ongoing and longer lasting buzz than coffee. Those who have fresh juice in the morning found to be more awake than those who don’t, by the time mid-morning hits.

Research found… 

The experiment was conducted by a research team at Reading University, where 24 young men were asked to take part in a series of mental tests over two different days.

For each of those days they were given different beverages to start the day. On the first day they consumed a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, on the second, they were given an orange-flavoured juice full of sugar and additives.

On the day that the freshly squeezed juice was ingested, performance was heightened as well as speed and attention to details.

The participants also reported extended periods of energy.

Just 250ml was enough to give the brain the boost it needs to get through the day.

The affects are thought to be due to flavonoids, which are health-boosting chemicals found in various fruits and vegetables. They are known to improve blood flow to the brain and make it easier for information to pass between brain cells.

So next time you cry out for your cup of coffee, try juicing some fresh, in-season citrus instead.

For a super brain boost try our delicious recipe for Orange and Chia Seed Presse here. 

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