When feeling tired, the first thing people might think of is drinking coffee to refresh themselves. However, a new study from the UK, recently published in the Journal of Nutrition, found that drinking a glass (about 240 ml) of orange juice can also be refreshing.
In the new study, Dr. Daniel Lambert of the University of Reading in the UK and his research team conducted a series of psychological tests on 24 young participants over two days. On one day, participants drank a glass of orange juice before the test; on the other day, they drank a sugary beverage that looked and tasted like orange juice before the test. The results showed that after drinking orange juice, the participants' alertness, attention, and reaction speed were significantly better. More importantly, the increased alertness from drinking orange juice could last for up to 6 hours. Compared to not drinking orange juice at breakfast, drinking it in the morning could keep the participants more alert in the afternoon.
Freshly squeezed orange juice
Dr. Lambert pointed out that the reason orange juice can refresh the mind is related to the flavonoids it contains. These health-promoting plant chemicals are found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits and berries. Flavonoids can improve the brain's function and ease the information pathways between brain cells. Therefore, drinking orange juice or eating citrus fruits can help improve concentration in the classroom or at work.
freshly squeezed orange juice