Feeling Tired? Forget Coffee, Drink a Cup of Orange Juice Instead

This week we celebrated National Coffee Day, but if you’re feeling tired, there could be something better out there than coffee. 

A new study out of the University of Reading in the U.K. found that drinking a glass of orange juice can actually help you boost alertness, concentration and reaction times — a better job than coffee, actually.

And even better than that, the effects last for hours, with those having orange juice for breakfast were found to be more awake than others by mid-afternoon.

The reason behind these effects is thought to be flavonoids, or health-boosting plant chemicals found in several fruits and veggies, including citrus fruits and berries. These have been found to also improve blood flow to the brain and ease the passage of information between brain cells.

And you don’t need to drink orange juice for long periods of time to feel the effects. The study found that just 240 ml a day (equivalent to a small glass or carton) is beneficial and enough to feel the difference.  The orange juice studied was store-bought, and fortified with extra pulp.

The study was published in the European Journal of Nutrition.

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