Orange juice vs milk: Which is a better morning drink? | The Times of India (2024)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is the time your body completely utilizes whatever food you consume and give you energy for the day. It also breaks your eight-hour fast (while you were sleeping) and hence your cells need fuel to recharge for the coming day. It is essential to eat nutrient-dense food in the morning. A dilemma we have all faced when it comes to breakfast is what drink should we begin our day with, vitamin C enriched orange juice or calcium loaded milk? Here is what science has to say

ORANGE JUICE: Orange juice is an excellent source of antioxidants which helps our body stay disease-free. Packed with vitamin C, orange juice protects the body from issues like air pollution, harmful UV rays and dangerous environmental pollutants like lead. One glass every day can fulfil your entire day’s vitamin C requirement.

DISADVANTGES: Orange juice usually comes in packeted form. This means that even though it does not include hidden sugars, it is still old. If we talk about fresh orange juice, when we juice an orange, we deplete a major amount of nutrient layer from it. Therefore, even though we do have a freshly squeezed glass, it is mostly water. Thirdly, if you believe in buying orange off the shelf, chances are it may contain taste enhancers to get rid of the bitterness in natural orange juice. Studies have also shown that orange juice is bad for teeth enamel and can ruin it permanently.

MILK: Nature’s purest form of calcium is packed in milk. Numerous studies have confirmed its many benefits which include not only calcium but also protein, vitamin B 12, healthy fats to name a few. Traditionally milk has been considered equal to an entire meal due to its countless benefits which promote a healthy active body.

DISADVANTAGES: Milk contains saturated fats which can lead to cardiovascular diseases and even obesity. Other than this, injecting poultry animals with hormones to get more milk is a common practice now and indirectly enters our food chain as well. Until and unless you are sure of the quality of the milk you are consuming, overloading your day with milk can hurt you in the long run.

ORANGE JUICE VS MILK: In this debate, milk wins. This is because firstly, milk is full of calcium and hence strengthen your teeth. Orange juice, as mentioned before, can ruin your enamel. Secondly, milk fills you up more than a glass orange juice due to the amount of satisfactory protein in it. A healthy protein can help you binge less on unhealthy snacks through the day. Thirdly, milk will help you break your eight-hour fast better than orange juice.

Having said that, orange juice is not a bad choice as long as you don’t solely depend on it. Having orange juice first thing in the morning followed by a healthy breakfast in an hours’ time which includes milk can help you have best of both worlds.