Have you ever thought that your morning glass of orange juice could be more dangerous than cigarettes?
In 2023, a study published in the Journal of Oncology shook the medical community: patients who ate more than two oranges a day had a 45% increased risk of esophageal cancer.
Dr. Mark Taylor of the Mayo Clinic told CNN : "The citric acid in citrus fruits destroys the stomach lining, making it vulnerable to carcinogens."
But the real scandal erupted when Emily, 38, from Miami, filed a lawsuit against the juice company, accusing them of concealing information about the harm of their products.
"I drank freshly squeezed juice every day, thinking I was strengthening my immune system. Seven years later, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer," she told The New York Times .
Despite demands from doctors, the FDA has yet to impose a ban, causing outrage.
Nutritionist Jamie Oliver warned his 5 million followers on TikTok: "If you smoke, forget about oranges. They are a deadly duo."
Not all experts agree
Dr Lisa Grant from the University of California says: "Vitamin C in citrus fruits protects DNA.
The problem is not in the fruit, but in its combination with alcohol and nicotine." The story of 60-year-old Carlos from Spain confirms this: "I have been eating oranges since childhood, smoking for 30 years - healthy as an ox."
Additional research
A 2024 study in the European Journal of Nutrition found that grapefruits contain furanocoumarins, which block enzymes responsible for detoxifying carcinogens.
"They slow down the metabolism of toxins, increasing their effects," explained toxicologist Dr. Robert Clark.
However, nutritionist Anna Maria Glukhova notes: "If you don't take medications or smoke, citrus fruits are safe. It all depends on the context."
Real-life case: In 2022, a Texas man who drank a liter of grapefruit juice daily was hospitalized with acute intoxication due to interaction with antidepressants.
“Now I only drink water,” he admitted in an interview with a local newspaper.
