Orange juice is the most popular fruit juice worldwide and has long been a breakfast staple.
Television commercials and marketing slogans portray this drink as unquestionably natural and healthy.
Yet, some scientists and health experts are concerned that this sweet beverage could harm your health.
This article looks at orange juice and whether it’s good or bad for you.
From the Orchard to Your Glass
Most store-bought types of orange juice aren’t made by simply squeezing fresh-picked oranges and pouring the juice into bottles or cartons.
Rather, they’re produced through a multi-step, rigorously controlled process, and the juice can be stored in large tanks for up to a year before packaging.
First, oranges are washed and squeezed by a machine. Pulp and oils are removed. The juice is heat-pasteurized to inactivate enzymes and kill microbes that could otherwise cause deterioration and spoilage (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
Next, some of the oxygen is removed, which helps reduce oxidative damage to vitamin C during storage. Juice to be stored as frozen concentrate is evaporated to remove most of the water (4).
Unfortunately, these processes also remove compounds that provide aroma and flavor. Some of them are later added back to the juice from carefully blended flavor packs (5).
Finally, before packaging, juice from oranges harvested at different times may be mixed to help minimize variations in quality. Pulp, which undergoes further processing after extraction, is added back to some juices (1Trusted Source).
SUMMARY
Supermarket orange juice isn’t the simple product it may appear to be. It undergoes complex, multi-step processing and can be stored in large tanks for up to a year before being packaged for sale in stores.
Orange Juice vs Whole Oranges
Orange juice and whole oranges are nutritionally similar, but there are some important differences.
Most notably, compared to a whole orange, a serving of orange juice has significantly less fiber and about twice the calories and carbs — which are mostly fruit sugar.
Here’s a closer look at the nutritional value of one cup (240 ml) of orange juice compared to a medium orange (131 grams) — either counts as one serving of fruit (6, 7, 8):
Orange juice Fresh orange
Calories 110 62
Fat 0 grams 0 grams
Carbs 25.5 grams 15 grams
Fiber 0.5 grams 3 grams
Protein 2 grams 1 gram
Vitamin A 4% of the RDI 6% of the RDI
Vitamin C 137% of the RDI 116% of the RDI
Thiamine 18% of the RDI 8% of the RDI
Vitamin B6 7% of the RDI 4% of the RDI
Folate 11% of the RDI 10% of the RDI
Calcium 2% of the RDI 5% of the RDI
Magnesium 7% of the RDI 3% of the RDI
Potassium 14% of the RDI 7% of the RDI
As you can see, the nutrient content of whole oranges and juice is similar. Both are excellent sources of vitamin C — which supports immune health — and a good source of folate — which helps reduce the risk of certain birth defects in pregnancy (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).
However, juice would be even higher in these nutrients if some weren’t lost during processing and storage. For example, in one study, store-bought orange juice had 15% less vitamin C and 27% less folate than home-squeezed orange juice (4).
Though not listed on nutrition labels, oranges and orange juice are also rich in flavonoids and other beneficial plant compounds. Some of these are reduced during orange juice processing and storage (1Trusted Source, 4, 11Trusted Source).
What’s more, one study found that — compared to unprocessed orange juice — pasteurized orange juice had 26% less antioxidant activity immediately after heat processing and 67% less antioxidant activity after about a month in storage (2Trusted Source).
SUMMARY
An 8-ounce (240-ml) serving of orange juice has about twice the calories and sugar of a whole orange. Their vitamin and mineral content is similar, but juice loses some vitamins and beneficial plant compounds during processing and storage.
Are Some Types Healthier?
The healthiest type of orange juice is the kind you fresh-squeeze at home — but that can be time-consuming. Therefore, many people opt to buy orange juice from the supermarket.
The least healthy options are orange-flavored drinks that contain only a small percentage of real juice, along with several additives like high-fructose corn syrup and yellow food coloring.
A healthier choice is 100% orange juice — whether it’s made from frozen orange juice concentrate or never frozen. These two options are similar in nutritional value and taste (12, 13Trusted Source).
Stores also sell orange juice with added calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients. However, due to its high calorie count, you shouldn’t drink it just for these added nutrients. Instead, taking a supplement pill is a calorie-free way to fill in any dietary gaps (14Trusted Source).
If you’re watching your calorie intake, you can buy orange juice beverages that promote 50% fewer calories and less sugar than regular orange juice.
However, these drinks contain added water and sugar substitutes — either natural ones, such as stevia, or artificial ones, including sucralose and acesulfame potassium, which you may prefer to avoid. If included, these will be listed in the ingredients list.
Finally, you can choose how much pulp you want in your orange juice. Extra pulp doesn’t add enough fiber to change the count on the nutrition label compared to pulpless juice, but it does supply beneficial plant compounds, including flavonoids (13Trusted Source, 15).
SUMMARY
The most nutritious option for store-bought juice is 100% orange juice with extra pulp. The worst choices are orange-flavored drinks that contain little real juice along with added sugars.
Possible Benefits
Nearly 80% of Americans fall short of the recommended daily fruit intake, which is two cups daily for the average adult. Orange juice is available year-round and has consistent quality, making it a convenient and flavorful way to help you meet your fruit quota (3Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).
Additionally, it generally costs less than whole oranges. Therefore, it can help those on a strict budget meet their daily fruit recommendations (3Trusted Source).
Still, health experts advise opting for whole fruit over juice when you can and note that fruit juice should make up no more than half of your daily fruit quota, meaning no more than one cup (240 ml) a day for the average adult (8, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).
Several studies have tested the heart health benefits of orange juice and suggest that it may help increase your antioxidant status and protect against free radical damage to cholesterol, which is a risk factor for atherosclerosis (19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).
However, these studies are typically sponsored by companies or groups with an interest in selling more orange juice and/or require people to drink higher amounts of orange juice, such as two cups a day or more.
SUMMARY
Orange juice can help you meet your fruit goal of two servings a day, but it should make up no more than half of your daily fruit quota. This means that you should limit your intake to one daily serving of juice.
Potential Downsides
Though orange juice is linked to some health benefits, it also has drawbacks that are mainly linked to its calorie content and effects on blood sugar levels.
High in Calories
Fruit juice is less filling than whole fruits and quick to drink, increasing your risk of overeating and weight gain (18Trusted Source).
What’s more, studies show that when you drink calorie-rich beverages, such as orange juice, you don’t necessarily eat less food overall and may consume more calories than you would have without the juice (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source).
Large observational studies in adults have linked each one-cup (240-ml) daily serving of 100% fruit juice with weight gain of 0.5–0.75 pounds (0.2–0.3 kg) over four years (25Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source).
Additionally, when adults and teens drank two cups (500 ml) of orange juice with breakfast, it decreased their body’s fat burning after meals by 30% compared to drinking water. This may be partly due to the sugary juice stimulating fat production in the liver (27Trusted Source).
Perhaps most concerning are the effects of orange juice in children, as they’re the top consumers of juice and juice drinks (18Trusted Source).
Orange juice and other sugary drinks can contribute to excess calorie intake in children, as well as tooth decay. Diluting orange juice doesn’t necessarily decrease dental risks, though it can reduce calorie intake (18Trusted Source).
May Raise Blood Sugar Levels
Orange juice could also increase your blood sugar more than whole oranges.
The glycemic load — which is a measure of how a food’s carb quality and quantity affect blood sugar levels — ranges from 3–6 for whole oranges and 10–15 for orange juice.
The higher the glycemic load, the more likely a food is to raise your blood sugar (28).
To help overcome some of these drawbacks of orange juice, scientists have tested the benefits of adding orange pomace — fiber and flavonoid-rich remnants of oranges retrieved from the segments, broken pulp and core — to juice.
Preliminary human studies suggest that the addition of pomace to orange juice may help reduce its blood sugar impact and improve feelings of fullness (29Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source, 31Trusted Source).
However, more research is needed, and pomace-enriched orange juice isn’t available in stores yet.
SUMMARY
Drinking orange juice isn’t very filling and may contribute to excess calorie intake and weight gain. It may also raise your blood sugar more than a whole orange and can increase your risk of dental decay.
The Bottom Line
Though nutritionally similar to whole oranges, orange juice provides very little fiber but twice the calories and sugar.
It may be an easy way to reach your recommended fruit intake but can cause blood sugar spikes and even weight gain.
It’s best to limit yourself to no more than 8 ounces (240 ml) per day.
Even better, if you can, opt for whole oranges over juice whenever possible.