Orange juice is a juice chosen by many people for its delicious taste, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Some studies show that drinking orange juice properly helps increase resistance, improve skin and aid digestion. However, many people have the habit of drinking orange juice at any time, without anticipating the potential harm. Here are the times to absolutely avoid to protect your long-term health.
Drink on an empty stomach
According to Dr. Nguyen Thu Ha (Thanh Hoa General Hospital), drinking orange juice on an empty stomach, especially in the morning, is a common mistake. The amount of citric acid in orange juice when taken into an empty stomach will stimulate increased phagocytosis, making the stomach lining susceptible to erosion, ulcers or causing an uncomfortable feeling of alcohol and scratch, Dr. Ha explained.
In addition, orange juice contains a fairly high amount of natural sugar. If taken immediately after waking up, blood sugar can suddenly increase, which is harmful to people with diabetes or prediabetes. Experts recommend that the best time to drink orange juice is about 1-2 hours after a meal, when the stomach already has acid-neutral foods and the body is more likely to absorb vitamins.
Drinking while taking medication
Some ingredients in orange juice, especially flavonoids and ascorbic acid, can interact adversely with medication. Studies show that orange juice can change the absorption rate or effectiveness of Tetracycline antibiotics, anti-inflammatory pain relievers, cardiovascular drugs or drugs that treat high blood pressure.
If you drink orange juice too close to the time of taking the medicine, there is a risk of losing the effect or increasing the toxicity of the medicine, Dr. Ha noted. It is best for patients to drink orange juice at least 2 hours before taking the medicine and consult a doctor before combining.
Drink before bed
Many people think that drinking orange juice before bed helps purify the body, supporting digestion. In fact, this is a counterproductive habit.
The sugar in orange juice easily stimulates the brain, making you alert and having difficulty sleeping. In addition, high acidity can cause reflux of the stomach, causing heartburn and bloating especially for people with chronic stomach disease.
Another less noticeable problem is the mild diuretic properties of orange juice. If you drink late, you may have to wake up many times at night to go to the toilet, disrupting sleep, affecting cardiovascular and immune system health in the long run.
Drinking while having digestive disorders
For people with gastric ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux or diarrhea, orange juice is a drink to avoid. High acidity increases the acidity of the stomach, stimulates the damaged mucous layer, making symptoms of abdominal pain and indigestion worse.
If you are having digestive problems, you should prioritize drinking warm water, ginger water or electrolyte water according to your doctor's instructions instead of fruit juices rich in acid.
Important notes when drinking orange juice
You should drink fresh orange juice, limit added sugar to avoid increasing blood sugar levels.
Don't drink too much. On average, each adult should only consume about 200300ml/day.
After drinking orange juice, rinse your mouth to reduce the acidic effect on tooth enamel.
Absolutely do not drink on an empty stomach, right before bed or while taking medication.
Orange juice is a rich source of vitamin C, which supports immunity and adds natural energy. But to take advantage of the benefits, users need to follow experts' recommendations, avoid sensitive times to protect the digestive system and maintain long-term health.
