CONNECT WITH OJ
CONNECT WITH GRAPEFRUIT
CONNECT WITH OJ
CONNECT WITH GRAPEFRUIT
Florida Orange Juice’s combination of nutrients supports overall health and can help adults and children meet intake recommendations for total fruit and certain key nutrients.
Florida Orange Juice’s combination of nutrients supports overall health and can help adults and children meet intake recommendations for total fruit and certain key nutrients.
This study published by Nutrients examined the relationship between consumption of 100% juice and diluted 100% juice and overall diet quality among U.S. children and adults using NHANES 2017–2023 data. Results showed that only 24.5% of individuals consumed 100% juice, with 77% of young children consuming less than 1/2 cup a day and 94% of older children consuming less than 1 cup of 100% juice per day. The consumption of 100% juice is below milk, water and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Consumers of 100% juice had higher Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2020) and Nutrient Rich Food (NRF9.3) scores, indicating better compliance with dietary guidelines. Their diet included more total fruit, potassium, calcium, vitamin C and less added sugar. Juice intake did not displace whole fruit for most individuals, though lower-income groups relied more on juice due to cost and access to fresh produce.
The study concludes that 100% juice consumption can be an indicator of healthier dietary patterns and may provide essential nutrients as well as fill nutrient gaps in populations that have limited access to fresh fruit. 100% juice can aid in reducing disparities while helping meet dietary guidelines for total fruit.1
A new study published by The American Journal of Medicine included 14 cohort studies looking at both 100% fruit juice and non-100% fruit juice with their association to type 2 diabetes mellitus. There was no significant association between the consumption of 100% fruit juice and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, while non-100% fruit juice consumption showed a statistically significant association with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Future research should continue to separate 100% fruit juices from other beverages that contain added sugar to have a better understanding of the health benefits of 100% fruit juice.3
In a recent randomized crossover study, different beverages were examined pre-exercise for thirst relief. Thirteen healthy college students completed 5 exercise trials who consumed either water, carbonated beverage, juice, electrolyte drink, or tea before each trial. Blood, saliva, and urine samples were collected before and after exercise as well as body weight, and thirst sensation. Serum Na+ concentrations significantly decreased post exercise in all beverage groups, with the electrolyte drink group showing a significantly different change compared to the other groups. The electrolyte drink was the only beverage that significantly increased serum K+ concentrations. In regards to subjective thirst water had the highest score while body weight significantly decreased in all groups. Overall, this study showed that the electrolyte drink showed better results for the indicators being examined compared to the other beverages. While this study specifically looked at apple juice for the juice beverage, containing 10.2 g of carbohydrates and 25 mg of sodium per 100 mL, if orange juice was selected for the juice beverage the results may have been better due to the higher levels of potassium (around 200mg per 100mL) and adding a pinch of salt would provide sodium concentrations. Further research should examine orange juice with these indicators to see how the results may differ for thirst relief.5
In a recent experimental study, athletes who consumed 300mL of orange juice in the treatment group showed a lower level of fatigue compared to the control group assigned to an isotonic drink. Twelve athletes in each group were asked to drink their assigned beverage 30 minutes before the Running-Based Anaerobic Spring Test (RAST) which consisted of a 10-minute warm up and then running 35 meters 6 times at maximum speed with a 10 second rest in between. The average fatigue rate value in the treatment group was 4.61±1.42, while the control group was 6.62±2.33, therefore showing a significant difference in the average fatigue level between the treatment group and the control group. The Running-Based Anaerobic Spring Test (RAST) is the test that was used to measure anaerobic muscle fatigue. The RAST test used fatigue levels as <10 (not tired) and >10 (tired). The potassium content in orange juice is higher than that of other fruit juices which can help maintain fluid balance and lactic acid. This study concludes that orange juice did significantly influence football athlete fatigue levels and may improve their performance.7
This review examined Phenol-Explorer which contained data on 502 polyphenols in 452 foods and beverages. The most ingested subclasses of polyphenols in different countries were phenolic acids and flavonoids, and non-alcoholic beverages (coffee, tea, and orange juice) were the foods that most contributed to the intake of polyphenols. France had an average intake of 1,193±510 mg/day, with the main sources consisting of non-alcoholic beverages (coffee, tea, and orange juice) and fruit (apple, strawberry, and plum). Among the 50 foods with the highest total polyphenol (TP) content per serving, orange or orange juice, wine, tea, and apple were the main contributors included in this review.9
A new review published by Premier Journal of Sports Science highlights the benefits of the citrus flavonoids, hesperidin and narirutin, in athletic performance and overall health. Multiple clinical trials have shown that these plant compounds help increase endurance, anaerobic power, and muscle efficiency while reducing fatigue as well as protecting against oxidative stress which can lead to muscle damage. Also, these natural compounds help reduce inflammation, support blood pressure regulation and overall cardiovascular health. In a study with soccer players, supplementation of 217 mg of hesperidin and 230 mg of narirutin before exercise reduced oxidative stress and muscle damage during an endurance test, while maintaining adequate performance. While most studies in this review focused on supplementation of these citrus flavonoids, some used 100% orange juice as a natural source of both hesperidin and narirutin. For example, one study in this review showed consumption of 300 mL/day of orange juice in combat athletes for 12 days lowered creatine kinase which is a marker for muscle damage. 100% orange juice may be considered an option in choosing a performance beverage as it may help to improve sports performance, recovery, and heart health.2
When competing and performing as an athlete, injuries can occur which will then lead to physical therapy and rehabilitation. Throughout the injury process, athletes can experience different levels of pain which can delay recovery and negatively impact when an athlete can return to their competitions and training. Hesperidin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruit and 100% orange juice, has properties that can inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators which alter pain perception and potentially could help alleviate pain while going through the athletic rehabilitation process.4
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Health Sciences reports that drinking 100% orange juice following exercise contributes to hydration equally as well as water and sports drinks, positioning the beverage as a viable alternative for post-exercise recovery. Researchers conducted a five-day exercise study with 26 healthy young adults who were moderately trained for endurance exercise. Each day they cycled on a stationary bike for 80 minutes and then consumed approximately eight fluid ounces of commercially available 100% orange juice, orange-flavored water, or an orange-flavored sports drink. Participants rated the taste of the beverages, thirst levels, and measures of gastrointestinal distress such as reflux or intestinal cramps immediately after the exercise, after drinking the beverages, and after one hour of rest. The researchers measured participants’ hydration status immediately after exercise and after a one-hour rest period. The study showed that people consuming 100% orange juice were hydrated as well as the participants consuming a sports drink or water. There were no symptoms of serious GI distress with the orange juice despite the carbohydrate content and acidity of the beverage.6
Orange juices preserve their bioactive compounds during storage, with very little influence from the brand, country, industrial process or storage conditions. In this comparison between freshly squeezed and commercial orange juice the main bioactive compounds in commercial 100% juices appear at nutritionally significant levels to the freshly squeezed ones.8
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials reviewed 735 participants of which 381 were in the hesperidin group and 378 were in the control group. The daily dose of hesperidin ranged between 500 and 1000mg and investigated the effect of this supplementation on several cardiometabolic markers. The results showed that hesperidin supplementation has lowering effects on fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol serum levels as well as lowering systolic blood pressure. Hesperidin is a naturally occurring flavonoid found almost exclusively in citrus and citrus juices.10
Wang et al. Nutrients 2025, 17, 760. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu1705076
Fatah et al. 2024; 6(2): 119-126. https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/spnj.