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Nutritional Information on Orange Juice

Orange juice contains important vitamins and nutrients. According to the US Department of Agriculture (DOA), a single serving of orange juice "provides over 100 percent of you daily value for vitamin C." However, some orange juice is made with artificial sweeteners instead of real fruit juice and can be high in calories, according to the George Mateljan Foundation.

  1. Features

    • According to the DOA, 3/4 of a cup of orange juice contains 78 calories, 2 grams of fat, 3 mg of sodium, 18 g of carbohydrates, less than 1/2 a g of dietary fiber, and 19 g of sugar. If you consume 2,000 calories a day, 3/4 of a cup of orange juice will provide you with 106% of your daily value of vitamin C.

    Benefits

    • Because orange juice is high in vitamin C, it's great for your immune system. Vitamin C contains antioxidants, and according to the Florida Department of Citrus, antioxidants "assist in fighting cell and tissue damage that could eventually lead to diseases such as heart disease and cancer." Also according to the DOA, 3/4 of a cup of orange juice "provides one serving from the fruit group of the food guide pyramid."

    Effects

    • According to the Florida Department of Citrus, pregnant women should drink orange juice because the vitamin C "helps the expecting mom's body absorb certain forms of iron. Vitamin C requirements are 13 percent higher when a woman is expecting." Orange juice is also "important for healthy body growth! It helps babies grow and helps build strong bones and teeth."

    Misconceptions

    • Be sure to read the nutritional labels carefully before purchasing orange juice. Some of the orange juice you buy at the store is made with sweeteners such as sucrose and high fructose corn syrup instead of real fruit juice, according to the George Mateljan Foundation. Because of this, many people "consume a large amount of calories without getting any actual nutrition."

    Considerations

    • Drinking orange juice is not as good for you as eating an orange. According to the George Mateljan Foundation, when oranges are squeezed to make orange juice, some of the nutrients get lost. Oranges contain flavonoids. Flavonoids and vitamin C "work together, and support health through their interaction." During the process of making orange juice, the flavonoids get squeezed out. So given the choice between eating oranges and drinking orange juice, eating an orange is the healthier option.

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