Orange juice is better than oranges

Everybody knows that eating actual fruit is healthier than drinking sugary fruit juices. But maybe this is a misunderstanding. The new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistryshows shows that despite the fact that sugar is more prevalent in juices, our ability to actually absorb the nutrients available is better in liquid form.

Scientists point out that oranges have carotenoids and flavonoids that have many benefits, including potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

The researchers found that the production of pasteurized orange juice slightly lowered the levels of carotenoids and vitamin C, but at the same time, it significantly improved the carotenoid and vitamin C bioaccessibility — or how much the body can absorb and use. Thus, while orange juice dramatically cut flavonoid levels the remaining ones were much more bioaccessible than those in orange segments.

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