Feeling tired? Forget coffee, have a glass of ORANGE JUICE

If you are feeling tired, don’t make a coffee - pour yourself a glass of orange juice instead.

Research has found the popular drink boosts alertness, concentration and reaction times.

What is more, the effects last for hours, with those who have juice at breakfast more awake than others mid-afternoon.

Reading University researchers put 24 young men through a battery of mental tests on two different days.

On one of the days, they’d had a glass of orange juice before being put through their paces. On the other day drank a flavoured, sugary water that looked and tasted like orange juice.

When they had the real juice, they did better on tests of speed and attention.

They also still felt very alert six hours later, the European Journal of Nutrition reports. 

It is thought the effects are due to the flavonoids, health-boosting plant chemicals found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits and berries.

They may improve blood flow to the brain and ease the passage of information between brain cells.

They also still felt very alert six hours later, the European Journal of Nutrition reports. 

Previous studies have shown orange juice to be good for the brain but have involved drinking it daily for weeks.

The latest research found just 240ml a day – a small glass or carton – to be beneficial.

The orange juice studied was a shop-bought variety, fortified with extra pulp.

Researcher Daniel Lamport said: ‘Cognition and alertness were significantly improved up to six hours after a 240ml serving of orange juice.

‘Eating or drinking flavonoid-rich fruit could be a great morning tonic, helping us to maintain alertness and concentration in the classroom or at work.’

The study was funded by PepsiCo, which makes Tropicana fruit juice.

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