Orange juice is a breakfast staple in many households, and for good reason. Each 8-ounce glass of orange juice is reported to contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C (which helps improve immunity and wound healing), folic acid (which is good for DNA synthesis and red blood cell breakdown), potassium (an essential electrolyte used by human tissues to regulate blood pressure and maintain fluid balance according to the Harvard Chan School of Public Health), and even a little protein. According to Health magazine, orange juice is also rich in antioxidants, which suppress kidney stones by balancing pH levels and improve heart health.
Considering all its benefits, it's no surprise that you sometimes crave it when you're stressed, sick, or your gut health changes. Learn more about food cravings and possible explanations why you might want a glass of orange juice in particular.
Stress can lead to cravings for orange juice.
There are many reasons for craving food, such as boredom or deprivation. "Hunger is the need for food, the need for fuel, the need for nutrition, and the need for all the good things our bodies and brains need," said Morse, chief clinical dietitian at UCLA Health. Our bodies tell us we want to eat something. "It turns out that wanting a big glass of orange juice may be your body telling you it's dealing with stress.
Orange juice may be rich in vitamins and minerals, but it is also rich in sugar, which can quickly seep into the bloodstream. When you're stressed or you're dealing with chronic stress, a surge in sugar can make your body feel happy, which is why high-sugar foods are sometimes referred to as comfort foods. According to Harvard Health, the need for comfort foods such as orange juice during times of stress can be attributed to high cortisol and insulin levels. In addition, a 2018 study in the journal Obesity found that stress prompts you to generate more appetite and reward-driven diets due to an increase in the hunger hormone ghrellin.
In addition, a 2023 study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences showed that consuming sugary beverages helped reduce stress in mice, but it also made them binge-eat. In other words, stress may play a role when you suddenly want orange juice on a deadline (but be careful not to drink too much, as this can lead to weight gain).
The craving for orange juice when sick.
You woke up this morning with a stuffy nose. A strange craving for orange juice overwhelms you, and before you know it, you're gobbling it up.
The antioxidants in vitamin C are reportedly what your immune system craves when it comes to the common cold. It works for many people: about 8% of adults and 14% of children say goodbye to colds faster when they take vitamin C daily. The researchers also observed that taking vitamin C daily reduced the risk of catching a cold by 50% in people who were in optimal physical condition, such as marathon runners. As physician Robalino explains, "Vitamin C plays a role in maintaining the integrity of the immune system and supporting the function of many immune cells. ”
Your cravings when you're sick can also be because your body is under extra stress and wants comfort food. While orange juice contains vitamin C, it may just be the sweetness of sugar, or the way a refreshing drink soothes dry tongue and makes you crave it, according to PBS.
The craving for orange juice can be caused by gut bacteria.
You are neither sick nor stressed, and in this case, your cravings may be related to your gut health.
Your body will get used to certain gut bacteria to help boost digestion. Research published in Bio Essays in 2014 showed that each person's gut microbiota is unique and responsible for triggering appetite and eating patterns. For example, a high-carb diet may mean that there are plenty of Prevonella bacteria in the gut, and certain fats can allow Bacteroides to thrive. These microbes in the gut can trigger food cravings and dissatisfaction to increase their health, even if it's not good for you. As a result, your gut microbiome will make you crave a gallon of orange juice, and your sister's gut microbiome may be the reason she craves a bag of chocolate.
According to The Conversation, your guts may make you more likely to crave orange juice, but that doesn't mean you need to give in. Introducing probiotics and prebiotics into the body can help regulate the microbiota in the gut (and thus suppress these cravings).
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