3 Reasons to Add Orange Juice to Your Day

Orange juice is pretty and sweet, but it is also an easy yet powerful tool to ease into a healthier lifestyle.

Orange juice is loaded with vitamin C. This is the most common reason we drink mass quantities. When you feel a cold coming on, you slug the OJ. The vitamin C helps fight infections. The vitamin C also helps the body absorb iron, which can ward off an iron deficiency.

Orange juice is invigorating and improves moods. The odor of citrus triggers a cognitive effect that lifts our moods. You can find the same benefit with grapefruit. As a matter of fact, grapefruit essential oil is a nice addition to a warm bath during the blahs or doldrums. Again, a better mood translates into better health.

Orange juice is an antioxidant that attacks free radicals in the body. Free radicals are linked to cancer or heart disease. Orange juice also has potassium and folate. The potassium is an essential nutrient. The FDA actually approved an orange juice company's claim in 2000 that the potassium in orange juice helps reduce risks of high blood pressure and stroke. The folate helps the body heal itself and generate new cells.

Naturally, there are loads of fruits and vegetables that are good for you and bring all sorts of health benefits. We should be eating a colorful diet every single day. However, in the rush of life it is easy to go through the day without much of anything that is fresh either because of the time it takes to prepare or purchase.

This is simply a nudge to put some orange juice in the refrigerator at work or at home. When that 3 p.m. slump hits and you typically reach for a soda or a candy bar, pour a glass of orange juice. You'll find you feel better physically and psychologically because you've made a conscious decision that is better for you. Orange juice can be a simple way to continue to turn good health into better health. It is also more satisfying than a chemical-filled soda.

As great as orange juice is, we need to acknowledge that there is an environmental toll to all the orange juice consumed by Americans. And, people interested in better health are also often interested in caring for the environment. There are a lot of resources that go into the growing, processing and packaging of orange juice. So, when possible, buy local and eat organic on your path to better health.