The #1 Best Juice to Drink for a Long Life, Says Dietitian

There are plenty of ways to boost your chances of having a really long life—avoid smoking, stay active, and eat a well-balanced diet. When you're thinking about putting together a healthy diet, juice might not be the first thing to pop into your mind, but perhaps it should. When you consume 100% juice (that means no added sugars), you get a concentrated elixir of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other bioactive plant compounds that can support overall health. Registered dietitians suggest that orange juice is the best juice to drink to live a long life because of its heart-strengthening flavonoids, immune-strengthening vitamin C, and ability to fight chronic inflammation.

Orange juice may support heart health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number one leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease. So if you're looking to make changes to your diet that impact longevity, it would be advantageous to look for ways to strengthen your heart.

Orange juice, a heart-healthy drink, can help to prevent poor heart health, according to medical expert board member Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian and author of The First Time Mom's Pregnancy Cookbook and Fueling Male Fertility, which could ultimately lead to a longer life.

"Orange juice plays a role in heart health thanks to the hesperidin flavonoid naturally found in the juice," says Manaker. "Data shows that drinking orange juice is linked to reduced blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, along with increased HDL good cholesterol, or good cholesterol."

Orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C

Orange juice isn't just great for heart health, but the vitamin C-filled drink also has been found to lower cholesterol, improve your immune system, reduce your risk of obesity, reduce inflammation, and lower blood pressure.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one serving of orange juice contains approximately 26 milligrams of vitamin C, more than one-third of the amount of vitamin C that an adult woman needs in a day, and nearly one-third of what an adult man needs each day, according to the Mayo Clinic. Vitamin C helps to keep bodies strong as it is crucial to aid in the growth, development, and repair of body tissues, so when you're sick, drinking orange juice won't just taste good, but it will help to repair your body.

Orange juice may help reduce inflammation

Some of the nutrients that are found in orange juice also help us to be more relaxed and less stressed out, which could lead to a longer life, as chronic stress has been linked to depression, tumor development, and plaque buildup in arteries, which could lead to heart disease, according to a Malaysian study.

"The nutrients found in 100% OJ are also linked to helping combat oxidative stress and chronic inflammation," Manaker says.

How to drink orange juice for a longer life

The best way to drink orange juice in order to prolong your life is by drinking freshly-squeezed orange juice, as it doesn't contain the excess sugar and artificial sweeteners that many packaged containers of juice have.