Starting your day with a tall glass of juice is a refreshing and effective way to jump-start the morning. Orange juice and carrot juice are high in immunity-boosting vitamin C, while beet juice is loaded with nitrates to support healthy blood flow. Fresh juice is best so you can get your day going without overdosing on sugar.
Tip
Carrot, orange and beet juice are all high in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that cleanses your cells of the free radicals that can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke and certain types of cancer.
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Cancer-Fighting Antioxidants
Oranges and carrots are both high in Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps scrub your cells of the free radicals that appear as a byproduct of metabolic processes such as breathing and digestion. Free radicals are also caused by exposure to environmental toxins such as cigarette or cigar smoke and other pollutants. In much the same way as rust grows on iron, free radicals attack your cells, raising your risk of heart attack, stroke and certain types of cancers. They also contribute to the visible signs of aging. Vitamin C supports collagen production, according to the National Institutes of Health, as well as supporting your immune system and helping your body absorb nonheme iron, which is found in plants such as spinach.
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Read more: The Best Vitamin C Dosage for Adults
Beta-Carotene and Vitamin A
In addition to vitamin C, carrots also provide beta-carotene and vitamin A, according to Medical News Today. Carotenoids may help reduce your risk of developing colon cancer, and lung cancer in nonsmokers, though more studies are needed to verify a causal link. The vitamin A in carrots has long been known to support healthy vision, and a lack of vitamin A can lead to xerophthalmia, a degenerative disease that can damage your daytime vision and make it very difficult to see clearly in low light and especially in darkness, such as when driving at night. A smoothie or mixed-juice drink made with carrot, beet and orange juices is loaded with beta-carotene and vitamin A, along with a powerful dose of vitamin C.
Read more: Which Vitamins Are in Carrots?
Nitrates for Healthy Blood Flow
Beets are high in nitrates. Naturally occurring nitrates, such as those found in fruits and vegetables, can help lower blood pressure and increase your stamina during workouts, according to WebMD. Nitrates are converted by enzymes on your tongue into nitrite. If this nitrite does not get sidetracked into becoming a nitrosamine, it wanders its way into becoming nitric oxide, which is a vasodilator. That means it helps open your blood vessels, facilitating blood flow, which lowers your blood pressure. Adding carrot and orange juices, with their high concentration of vitamin C, to beet juice helps inhibit the formation of nitrosamines, some of which are carcinogens.
Other Orange, Beet and Carrot Juice Benefits
While it is always better to eat whole fruits and vegetables to get the full benefit of their vitamins, minerals and especially fiber, there are some benefits to juicing them, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is especially true if you have issues with texture. Mixing orange, carrot and beet fruit juices allows you to play with the proportions to get exactly the right flavor to suit your personal taste. You can also add other ingredients. For example, orange, carrot, beet and ginger juice will have a slightly spicy tang that's especially refreshing in summer, and the ginger also boosts the vasodilating effect, supporting smooth blood flow.