Sip the Health Benefits of Orange Juice for Clearer Arteries

Whether beside oatmeal or eggs, this breakfast favorite helps prevent hardening of the arteries: orange juice.

The health benefits of orange juice include vitamin C. And in a study of men, those with a high intake of vitamin C—as well as berries and other fresh fruit —experienced significantly less thickening of their carotid arteries compared with the low fruit-and-C group.

Findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirms the presence of a natural plant chemical called hesperidin – part of a a class of disease-fighting compounds found in plant foods like tea, fruit, soya and cocoa.

Although previous studies have hinted orange juice may be good for the heart, scientists have been uncertain exactly what gives it its protective powers, til now.

Pipe-Cleaning C

Clear arteries. They’re super important because gunk-free can often mean problem-free. But carotid-artery thickness is important, too. It’s a direct measure of atherosclerosis—the narrowing and hardening of the arteries that can lead to heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. To keep your arteries wide open and pliable for years to come, you need the health benefits of orange juice and other foods rich in vitamin C and pipe-friendly antioxidants.

Aside from preventing the hardening of the arteries, similar studies have found that vitamin C may help protect your cardiovascular system in numerous ways as well. Whether you get the health benefits of orange juice or another vitamin-C-rich food, the cells lining your arteries will improve, your risk of blood clots will decrease, and bad-for-your-heart inflammation will fade away.