The Nutrition Facts for 1/2 Cup of Orange Juice

Just a half cup of pure orange juice exceeds the USDA's recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C at 103 percent. As with all pure juices, orange juice contains all of the micronutrients of the fruit and replaces the need to eat larger quantities of fruit. By drinking orange juice or mixing it with other juices all the benefits of eating large amounts of fruit or vegetables can be reduced to one glassful of juice that is quick and easy to drink.

Calories

• There are 56 calories in half a cup of orange juice. These calories break down into 90 percent carbohydrates, 4 percent fat and 6 percent protein. The calories from orange juice are easily converted into energy by the body and are not stored in tissue as fat. This makes orange juice a good nutritional source of energy.

Fat

• A half cup of orange juice contains just 0.25 gram of fat. Studies have shown that by drinking orange juice, high cholesterol has been reduced. People drinking three cups of orange juice a day for four weeks decreased their cholesterol count by 16 percent.

Carbohydrates

• The 12.9 grams of carbohydrates from a half cup of orange juice only meet 4 percent of the USDA recommended allowance. Certain diets that count carbohydrate intake would consider orange juice as an insignificant source. The carbohydrates in orange juice are considered by nutritionists to be complex carbohydrates. These are found in whole foods and are more healthful than processed carbohydrates.

Protein

• Orange juice is not a significant source of protein. Half a cup contains just 0.87 grams. Healthy sources of protein can be found in other fruits however, and mixed with orange juice. For example one half cup of coconut milk contains 1 gram of protein.