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Comparing Prices: Orange Juice from Vending vs Grocery Store Tetra Paks

Comparing Prices: Orange Juice from Vending vs Grocery Store Tetra Paks
Picture courtesy: Rawpixel

Orange juice is a staple in many Canadian families and indeed worldwide. This is because it is a very refreshing and delicious way to start the day. Freshly squeezed orange juice is packed with a healthy load of vitamin C, as well as antioxidants, enzymes, minerals and other vitamins. It is also very beneficial for digestion and electrolyte replenishment.

However, fresh orange juices are not always available, and the abundant source of orange juice is usually the store-bought packs. This is because while freshly squeezed orange juices are harder to get, the store-bought ones are easily accessible, convenient and accessible. However, with the invention of orange juice vending machines, freshly squeezed orange juice can become just as accessible and convenient as store-bought packs. In this article, the store-bought orange juice packs and the orange juice gotten from vending machines are compared based on price, taste, content, additives as well as other criteria.

Comparing Prices: Orange Juice from Vending vs Grocery Store Tetra Paks
Picture courtesy: Rawpixel

What is the production process of commercial orange juice and vending machine orange juice?

Comparing Prices: Orange Juice from Vending vs Grocery Store Tetra Paks
Picture courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Commercial orange juice is devoid of antioxidants, digestive enzymes and a majority of the fresh vitamins that are usually present in freshly squeezed orange juice, and this is largely due to the production process. The majority of the content is lost as a result of the pasteurization process that is used in the production of commercial juices. The scorching also affects, to a great extent, the vitamin C content. This is because this content is heat and oxidation-sensitive and will usually deteriorate or be lost completely on exposure to heat. This is in contrast to vending machine orange juice, as all the content is preserved because the juice does not undergo any heat-altering process.

Also, while pasteurization is intended to eliminate bacteria and protect the general public against health concerns, fresh orange juice is loaded with antimicrobial properties from the vitamin C, citric acid and other content that is present in it.

Comparing Prices: Orange Juice from Vending vs Grocery Store Tetra Paks
Picture courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

What additives are present in both sources of orange juice?

Due to the production process of store-bought orange juice, it is likely to contain a lot of additives that are very similar to what perfume makers use in the production of perfumes. This is done to keep the flavour of the juice consistent within different batches. Also, if the additives do not get added, the juice may be tasteless. When orange juices are being produced, the oranges are squeezed, and the collected juices are stored in huge vats for over a year.

In order to prevent the juice from spoiling, oxygen is removed from those vats. The artificial tastes and flavour packs added are usually done in this phase of production. It is very typical for commercial orange juice to contain fluorides and other water-based chemicals. The orange juice obtained from vending machines is devoid of all these chemicals and additives, while also retaining their original taste. This is because they contain actual flavours and natural vitamins, antioxidants and other beneficial content. This is why the fresh orange juice from the vending machine does not add to the toxic load in the body but reduces it.

What is the sugar content in vending machine juice sources?

The sugar content in the orange juice from vending machines is in the fructose, sucrose and glucose forms. However, in the end, they are all converted to glucose. Glucose is the natural fuel of the body and in its absence, the body looks for alternative sources for this energy. Having adequate glucose amounts in the body is very important. If an individual has too low glucose, the stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline also rise, which can be damaging to the well-being of the individual. Commercial orange juice is filled with artificial sugars which are not very beneficial to the well-being of the individual. They can contribute to weight gain and diabetes.

The vitamin content of both juice sources

The vitamin content of orange juice that is obtained from vending machines is complete, this is because they are freshly gotten and do not undergo any production changes. It contains the full load of vitamin C which is a strong antioxidant source, very beneficial in increasing white blood cell count. Antioxidants are also crucial in the optimal health of individuals. Jusfres Orange juice obtained from vending machines is also rich in bioflavonoids, which are plant pigments that enhance the bioavailability of the nutrients that are present, like vitamin C. Bioflavonoids also can increase significantly the amount of vitamins absorbed when they are included in synthetic vitamin C sources.

Other beneficial content 

Apart from the already listed contents, fresh orange juice also has many anti-stress contents, including magnesium, vitamin C and potassium. These act as an essential support system for the adrenals, the thyroid and the stress response system. They are very active in the production and conversion of active thyroid hormone T3. The thyroid cannot keep up with the body’s hormonal demands without them. This will usually lead to an increase in overall physical stress levels.

The antioxidants in vitamin C are also essential for the production of collagen. This helps an individual to look younger, it also supports the digestive system and also helps in the formation of strong bones and teeth. All these benefits are lacking in store-bought orange juices because the artificial supplementation cannot properly suffice. The full vitamin C complex content cannot be gotten unless it is in the whole-food form. Getting vitamin C from food sources is the ideal format, and there are not many better ideal sources than the orange juices that are gotten from vending machines.

Price differences

Getting orange juice from vending machines can be cheaper than getting store-bought ones. Quarters, pennies and other cheap money forms can get you the equivalent amount of orange juice from vending machines. This makes it very cost-effective; very much cheaper than store-bought orange juices, which retail for about 4.58- 6.00 Canadian dollars per liter as of February 2022.

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