No Sugar Added

Detailed Nutrition Information

Sugars are Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates include sugars and starches (which break down into sugars). Carbohydrates are naturally occurring and found in fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains. Simply put, they provide your body with energy. Your brain and blood cells require sugar to function properly.³

Weight Maintenance

100% orange juice, as well as other 100 percent fruit juices, is not related to excess weight, body mass index (BMI), or other indices of obesity or being overweight in both adults and children, and clinical studies testing 100% orange juice or 100 percent fruit juice have not resulted in increased obesity or body weight. ^7,9-14

The effect of satiety (fullness) and hunger has also been studied with 100% orange juice consumption. Satiety increased and the desire to eat decreased in participants after consuming 8 ounces of 100% orange juice compared to water in a randomized clinical trial.¹⁵ Adding pomace from oranges to the juice (which adds more fiber and flavonoids) increased these effects and was similar to whole blended oranges. Feeling full may help in making healthier food choices at your next meal.

A study following adolescent girls over time found naturally occurring sugars (both solids and liquids) were not associated with weight or adiposity (BMI z-score, waist circumference change).²⁷ Analyses NHANES data (2009-2014) for children 2-19 years of age also found naturally-occurring sugars as liquids (e.g. fruit juice) or solids (e.g. fruit) were not associated with overweight of obesity.²⁸ However, it is important to remember that it is the sum of the diet, not just one nutrient like sugar, along with physical activity, lifestyle behaviors, and other factors (e.g. genetics) that are involved in energy balance.³ Excess calories from any food may result in a higher risk for being overweight. As the Dietary Guidelines for Americans state, “foods containing added sugars are no more likely to contribute to weight gain than any other source of calories in an eating pattern that is within calorie limits.”⁵

Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome

Excess calories consumed from any food can increase body fat. Overweight, obesity, elevated triglycerides and fasting blood glucose are some of the risk factors for diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Research indicates 100% orange juice or 100 percent fruit juice is not associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes or metabolic syndrome, and studies show no adverse effects on glucose or insulin metabolism.^{11, 16-18}

Fruit Intake and Diet Quality

Dietary patterns recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans include eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. An 8-ounce glass of 100% orange juice counts as one cup of fruit or one serving of fruit. These are based upon lowered risk of disease and improved nutrient intake.⁵ According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, about one-third of the U.S. population’s fruit intake comes from fruit juice.⁵

Research shows that both adults and children who regularly consume 100% orange juice or 100 percent fruit juice are more likely to have higher diet quality, higher intake of vitamins and minerals, and higher whole fruit intake.^{10,11,14,15,19,20} These results show 100% fruit juice is complementary and not competitive with whole fruit intake and may encourage the consumption of whole fruit.

Oral Health

Fermentable carbohydrates provide a favorable environment for oral bacteria to thrive and may increase the risk for dental caries. However, fluoride exposure, oral hygiene, food composition, timing (exposure, frequency), and host dynamics (e.g. genetics, dietary behaviors, gut microbiome) are also major factors.^5,21-22

Sugar intake alone is not the cause of cavities.^5,21-22 In fact, the “relationship between sugar consumption and caries is much weaker in the modern age of fluoride exposure than it used to be.”²³ Research indicates 100 percent fruit juice does not independently cause dental caries.^21,24-26

Hesperidin

There is evidence to suggest that hesperidin, a flavonoid found in 100% orange juice, may play a role in delaying the absorption of natural sugars. In a crossover trial with ten healthy volunteers in each study, three separate crossover interventions were conducted using orange juice with different amounts of added hesperidin with water. The data shows that hesperidin may regulate postprandial glycemic response of orange juice depending on the sugar and hesperidin concentrations.³⁰ This means that 100% orange juice may not contribute to blood sugar elevations in the same way other sugary beverages containing added sugars would.

*Comparisons made between averages in weight, water, energy, and sugar content in orange juice (09206, 09209) and whole oranges (09203) of different sizes.

^{*Values based on a 2000 calorie diet. FDA rounding rules applied when calculating percent DV based upon 2018 rules. Information is not intended for labeling food in packaged form. Nutrient values may vary based on brand or product types.}