Aromatherapy is a complementary therapy that uses natural essential oils and aromas to promote health and well-being. One of the most used is orange essential oil, which is a highly concentrated liquid extracted from the peel of sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis). Extraction is usually done by cold pressing or steam distillation of ripe orange peels.
The sweet and citrus aroma that It smells exactly like a freshly peeled orange. It is known to have a variety of health benefits due to its natural properties, from improving mood to helping weight loss.
Now, a new study by scientists at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) suggests that the benefits of 100 percent orange juice go far beyond a daily dose of vitamin C.
The study aimed Discover the effects of drinking pure orange juice versus orange-flavored sugary drinks about the amount of food a person could eat, in addition of the effect on your blood glucose level, average appetite, emotions and sensory characteristics in adults of normal weight and condition.
According to study author Dr. Nick Bellissimo, associate professor and director of Nutrition Discovery Labs at TMU, the research again shows how reducing sugar intake is a healthy choice.
The research showed that a glass of orange juice before a high-calorie meal helps you eat lessfor his satiating capacity, and better control blood sugar during the day.
The study recruited 36 adults between 18 and 45 years old with an average body mass index, considered healthy by all usual standards. They participated in three separate testing sessions approximately five days apart.
On the morning of each testing session, Participants arrived at the TMU laboratory at 8 a.m. after fasting for 10 to 12 hours and were fitted with continuous glucose monitors.
They were served breakfast in the laboratory and two hours later, They were given 100 percent orange juice during the first session, an orange soda during the second, and water during the third. Approximately 60 to 90 minutes later, lunch was served to the participants.
“We fed them and told them: ‘Eat until you are satisfied.’ And in fact we measured how many calories they consumed at lunch,” Bellissimo told the Canadian site Citynews.
Then, Participants were sent home and asked to record everything they ate for the rest of the day.
“We have the continuous glucose monitors on, so we were able to measure their blood glucose levels, or what I call the excursions – the changes in their blood glucose, over the rest of the day,” he said.
Bellissimo said changes in blood glucose levels have a broad impact on how a person feels, including mood, memory, performance, appetite and how many calories they end up consuming during the day.
According to Bellissimo, the idea of the study was to know What should people consume as a mid-morning snack if they want to suppress appetite and food intake? and potentially help regulate your blood glucose levels.
He added that these benefits of orange juice are probably due to to the high polyphenol content of 100% natural orange juice, which has been shown to attenuate the glycemic response.
“I think people in general are looking to make healthy choices in their daily routine… people don’t want to overeat. So we’re trying to figure out what we should give our body in real time, so that it’s satisfying and you don’t end up overeating during the day. Ask anyone trying to restrict calories at breakfast, lunch, and evening. You’re simply setting yourself up to overeat at the end of the day. So our idea here is can we do things early in the day and consistently that can help an individual self-regulate better?
Bellissimo said the study provides a lot of practical information.
“There is something about the ratio of glucose to fructose in various beverages that can be used to potentially improve outcomes in terms of appetite, in terms of suppressing food intake,” he said.
He added that the study points out that when considering reducing sugar consumption, the source of the sugar is key. Having just a little of that sugar in 100 percent orange juice could help decrease overall sugar consumption.
Bellisimo explained that the idea It is not recommended to consume orange juice as the solution to lose weight.. “It’s about feeling good about the decisions you make because it gives you a real-time functional advantage and will contribute to better self-regulation.”
He added that the findings They do not apply to groups the study did not include, such as those with diabetes, people living with obesity, children, or older adults.
“But it opens the door to additional experimental trials, especially some longer-term studies that I think we need to do,” he said.
