Do you take orange juice with your breakfast? Please read on for some tips from our Health & Wellbeing Coach, Ludmila Enticott

Orange juice is normally seen as a source of vitamin C and a 'healthy option' to add to breakfasts. However, it is important to note that fruit juice is devoid of fibre and has therefore a lot of concentrated sugar. What started as a healthy piece of fruit easily turns into something quite far from it when you realise that you are taking in all the sugar from about 6 or 9 oranges, all at once, in one average glass of the stuff.

And more: the vitamin C content of the juice is not that viable as it is separate from the pith and pulp, which contain five times more nutrients than the juice and the bioflavonoids that work in synergy. The reality is vitamin C is utilised in the body as part of a complex, which includes a range of nutrients present in the rest of the fruit but discarded when you drink just the juice. That also goes for the vitamin C capsules if you buy them in isolated form such as ascorbic acid. So, in the end, drinking just the juice means you've missed out on most nutrition from the fruit, the vitamin C in it will not be well utilised in the body, and you will dose yourself up with sugar in liquid form.

A better alternative would be to use the whole fruit, perhaps by blending it into a smoothie (peel, pith, pulp, seeds and all). Something very good to do is to buy some organic lemons, freeze them whole and then grate about 1/3 of a lemon on top of your salads. That way, you get the full nutritional benefits from citrus fruit without throwing out the most valuable parts. It is all edible, including the seeds, and the nutritional value is much superior to juice alone. Stick to whole foods whenever possible, that’s what nature intended, that’s how our bodies can benefit the most. 

Lifestyle management for the improvement of health is what we focus on during our Health Coaching Sessions. If you would like to invest in your long-term health, please come talk to us. Referrals are easy and straight forward with no waiting lists. Health coaching sessions cover all aspects of lifestyle and wellbeing with topics varying amongst diet, exercise, emotional health, stress management, sleep hygiene and more. Talk to your GP for an easy referral, or e-mail us at we.connect@nhs.net to self refer.

Make time for your health. We are here to help.