Sugar and Vitamin C
There are a great multitude of vitamins for sale on store shelves of all brands and varieties and the reasons people take the vitamins vary significantly as well. Of course, not everyone is a huge purveyor of vitamins but even those people who are not all that familiar with vitamins have probably heard of Vitamin C.
The reason for this is that Vitamin C remains one of the most popular vitamins in existence and remains so mainly because it is commonly associated with citrus fruits which are probably the most popular fruits on the market. Additionally, Vitamin C provides a host of health benefits and that has also driven up the sales of these fruits greatly. After all, how many people reach for orange juice when they have a cold? Well, if you are then you may be doing yourself and your Vitamin C intake a disservice.
The Orange Juice Issue
While many people assume that orange juice is healthy, it is really not a product that is all that great for one's health. The reason for this is that processed orange juice is exactly that…processed. This is done so that the orange juice can stay on store shelves for lengthier periods of time and, as a result, a number of the drink's vitamin benefits are diminished. Also, many brands of orange juice are LOADED with sugars which will spike insulin levels and lead to fat storage. As such, if you want orange juice it is best to make it yourself with a juicer at home or just eat the fruit in its natural state. However, there are caveats there as well.
Sugar Content and Fruit
While citrus fruit is very high in Vitamin C, it is also extremely high in sugar. Yes, the sugar found in fruit is natural sugar and this makes it a much better sugar source than the refined sugars found in processed items. However, it is still sugar and that means it will spike insulin levels and if you are not careful with your sugar consumption then it will promote weight gain in the form of excess fat.
Additionally, excess fruit intake can lead to water retention and bloating and because of this one needs to go sparingly on fruit regardless of the benefits that it offers because the resultant negatives will cancel any benefits that may derive from it. So, fruit is a great source of vitamins, but its intake should always be tempered with moderation.
