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When you wake up in the morning and get yourself started for the day, chances are you think about what you’re going to eat for breakfast. Most of the time, when we make ourselves breakfast we also grab something to drink. For some people that might be coffee, tea, water or even orange juice.
Orange juice is probably the most quintessential breakfast beverage. How many commercials can you think of that recommend orange juice as part of a balanced breakfast? How many TV shows and movies have their characters sitting around the table drinking orange juice with their breakfasts?
You can probably think of a bunch of examples and times you’ve seen orange juice. Maybe that’s YOUR favourite breakfast beverage.
But what if I told you that millilitre per millilitre Orange Juice and Coca-Cola have just about the same amount of sugar? Does that shock you? It is pretty surprising to think that something we attribute as being the healthier option is potentially just as bad for us as the pop!
Coca-Cola does have more additives, food colourings and chemicals than the orange juice but most orange juices you can buy from stores have been pasteurized (which means it has been heated up to kill pathogens so it becomes shelf stable), which can remove some of the nutrients and vitamins, and they don’t contain any pulp. The fibre from the pulp allows our bodies to better digest the orange juice by slowing down the digestion process. Without that pulp we’re just left with basically sugar juice. Our bodies will absorb this very quickly and spike our blood sugar.
There are alternatives to orange juice so don’t stress out yet! If you really do love orange juice you can always make your own! Juicing your own orange juice (and making sure you still get all that pulp and fibre) means that you get to continue enjoying it in the mornings. You can also make smoothies for yourself and add additional fruits and veggies to boost the nutrition.
If the sugar content is a large concern for you, water with lemon is a great alternative to commercial orange juice.
If you’re curious about the side by side comparison, be sure to watch the video below and let us know if you have any questions!
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only, it is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any illness or disease. Please consult a professional for your healthcare needs.