The Hesperidin in Florida Orange Juice has Surprising Health Benefits

The Hesperidin in Florida Orange Juice has Surprising Health Benefits

Uncle Matt's Organic

June 13, 2018

Citrus Health Benefits

Vitamin C isn’t the only reason you should reach for a glass of 100% Orange Juice. Citrus fruits, including orange juice, contain potent antioxidant-like compounds called bioflavonoids and one in particular has many health benefits. While you may be familiar with resveratrol, found in red wine, or catechin, a component of green tea, a related plant compound called hesperidin is lesser known.

What is Hesperidin?

Hesperidin is a bioflavonoid, a type of plant compound with antioxidant properties that may play a role in fighting inflammation, maintaining good blood sugar levels, and supporting brain and heart health. Hesperidin is found almost exclusively in citrus fruits, and it is particularly high in oranges and 100% orange juice.

Most of the hesperidin is found in the peel and membranes of the orange. When oranges are pressed to make 100% orange juice, the hesperidin is extracted from the peel, pulp, and membranes. This helps to make 100% orange juice one of the best food sources of hesperidin.

Benefits of Hesperidin

Many of the health benefits from hesperidin come from its positive effects on decreasing inflammation and supporting blood vessel health. Hesperidin appears to act in conjunction with the nutrients found in citrus fruits to neutralize free radicals and lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes, improve your circulation, and protect your brain function as you age.

1. Improved Heart Health. Hesperidin supports a healthy heart by helping to vasodilate ^(7,10) or relax, your blood vessels which may lead to lower blood pressure. Hesperidin also has been shown to positively support endothelial cells that line blood vessels, which also may reduce the risk of heart disease^(7,10) Research has shown higher consumption of hesperidin and other bioflavonoids found in citrus to be related to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. ^(5,6,8)
2. Brain Protection. Hesperidin is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and may help reduce inflammation, promote blood flow in the brain, and maintain brain cell health, all of which may have positive effects on cognition. Hesperidin has been shown to have several brain benefits ⁽¹⁾ including maintaining mental alertness, supporting executive function skills such as memory and attention, and aiding psycho-motor skills like movement and coordination.
3. Blood Sugar Control. Hesperidin may play a role in maintaining blood sugar control ^(4,9) and reducing insulin resistance. Intake of hesperidin and other bioflavonoids in citrus is also linked to lower risk of type 2 diabetes. ^(11,12)

How to Get Hesperidin in Your Diet

It is rare to find hesperidin in any other food besides citrus. 100% OJ is a great way to get hesperidin in your diet as it is the only fruit juice and the only commonly-consumed food ⁽³⁾ that contains a significant amount of hesperidin.

Source: Florida Dept of Citrus

Studies Cited:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26280945
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15465737
3. Bhagwat S, Haytowitz D. USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods Release 3.2. In. Beltsville, MD: Unites States Department of Agriculture; 2015.
4. Haidari et al. J Am Coll Nutr. Hesperidin supplementation modulates inflammatory responses following myocardial infarction. 2015; 34 (3):205-11. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2014.891269.
5. Knekt et al. Am J Clin Nutr. Flavonoid intake and risk of chronic diseases. 2002; 76 (3):560-568.
6. Mink et al. Am J Clin Nutr. Flavonoid intake and cardiovascular disease mortality: a prospective study in postmenopausal women. 2007; 85 (3):895-909.
7. Morand et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93(1):73-80.
8. Ponzo et al.  J Transl Med. Dietary flavonoid intake and cardiovascular risk: a population-based cohort study. 2015; 13 (1):218. doi: 10.1186/s12967-015-0573-2.
9. Rangel-Huerta et al.  J Nutr. Normal or High Polyphenol Concentration in Orange Juice Affects Antioxidant Activity, Blood Pressure, and Body Weight in Obese or Overweight Adults. 2015; 145 (8):1808-16. doi: 10.3945/jn.115.213660.
10. Rendeiro et al. Br J Nutr. 2017;116(12):1999-2010
11. Sun et al. J Nutr. Urinary Excretion of Select Dietary Polyphenol Metabolites Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Proximate but Not Remote Follow-Up in a Prospective Investigation in 2 Cohorts of US Women.2015; 145 (6):1280-8. doi: 10.3945/jn.114.208736.
12. Tresserra-Rimbau et al. J Nutr. Intake of Total Polyphenols and Some Classes of Polyphenols Is Inversely Associated with Diabetes in Elderly People at High Cardiovascular Disease Risk. 2016; 146 (4):767-777. doi: 10.3945/jn.115.223610.