A tall glass of orange juice is what comes to mind when I feel the need to be “healthy” in the mornings. Packed with Vitamin C and other essential vitamins, I thought I would feel refreshed and alive.
I was recently set on the plan that I would drink juice every morning and lose weight, all while juggling the stressful life of a college student – I was wrong.
In fact, drinking OJ had the opposite effect on me.
Every three to four hours I would start getting hungry, and for some odd reason, I started craving something sugary, sweet and regretful. Eventually, I gave in to my cravings and sadly ate the two chocolate covered cupcakes that were sitting so beautifully in my kitchen. Every time I sat down to study, I felt that I needed to constantly get up to grab a snack.
Not being able to sit calmly for a few hours without munching on something was interrupting my studying, but more importantly my personal TV time. After four out of the seven days of my attempt at being “healthy” I decided that something was wrong. Why was I feeling this hungry? I decided to turn this into an investigation. I read a few articles and case studies to figure out a solution.
Here’s what I discovered:
1.) Drinking a glass of OJ can cause a sudden spike of blood sugar levels (and who would want that?).
2.) The sudden drop will leave you hungrier than before.
3.) Juice lacks the fiber that comes from the fruit.
4.) Orange juice roughly has the same amount of sugar (or more) as a can of coke.
So, you might be wondering, is there an alternative to orange juice? Yes, grapefruit juice is a healthier option!
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It lacks the high amount of sugar (that we don’t need) that’s in orange juice.
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It’s low in calories and high in nutrients!
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It has fiber which can help you control your appetite.
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It’s great for weight loss and keeps you from getting hungry.
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It’s also VERY bitter, but that’s helpful in the morning when you’re trying to be more awake.
Grapefruit juice is the new orange juice (in my perspective). It takes a little while to get used to the bitterness, but it’s worth it in the end because you’re left feeling satisfied and refreshed. The best places to find these juices are at your local farmers market, Findlay Market and Kroger.