Should I drink orange juice in the evening?

Answer:

Orange juice is known for its ability to increase the body’s resistance to infection, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and it also has anti-aging properties.

Currently, no research suggests orange juice shouldn’t be drunk in the evening. However, there is a large amount of caffeine in the juice that can create insomnia for those who are sensitive.

Orange also contains a lot of vitamin C – which is quickly absorbed and excreted through the urinary tract, so drinking orange juice at night can cause nocturia in some people.

As such, it’s best to drink orange juice in the morning or noon, ideally an hour before or after your meals so as not to affect digestion and cause indigestion.

Those who are sensitive to certain components in orange juice such as vitamin C and caffeine should avoid drinking it. Patients with gastritis or any digestive disease should also avoid drinking orange juice because the amount of acid inside the juice can irritate the stomach mucosa.

Patients with diabetes, or suffering from liver and kidney failure, should also consider carefully before drinking orange juice.

There has been no contraindication on the consumption of orange juice. However, you should still consult a doctor or nutritionist before committing to long-term consumption, and avoid any drug interaction that might reduce the treatment’s effectiveness.

Dr. Bui Pham Minh Man

University of Medical Center HCMC – Branch No.3