100% OJ Explained - For Health Pros

With busy schedules — and a crowded information environment — nutrition guidance that is both practical and evidence-based is vital. This page is designed to strengthen your understanding of how 100% orange juice can support overall diet quality.

Florida Orange Juice is 100% orange juice — and in addition to being familiar, convenient and delicious, it offers many benefits.

Here, you’ll find streamlined information about the key nutrients in 100% OJ and concise research summaries that translate science into everyday guidance. They can help you confidently discuss the benefits of 100% orange juice with your patients.

What’s included on this page:

Orange Juice Nutrition | Orange Juice Benefits | Health & Nutrition Resources

Orange Juice Nutrition

100% orange juice is best known for vitamin C, but it includes so many other vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds that contribute to a healthy diet.

Vitamins & Minerals

An 8-ounce serving of 100% orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C and provides a good source of folate, potassium and thiamin. 100% OJ also contributes smaller amounts of vitamin B6, niacin, magnesium, riboflavin and vitamin A.

Fortified varieties of 100% orange juice are rich in calcium and provide a good source of vitamin D per 8-ounce serving.

Bioactive Compounds

Beyond vitamins and minerals, 100% OJ has powerful bioactive compounds. This includes carotenoids like beta-carotene, alpha carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, and flavonoids like hesperidin.

Hesperidin is the most abundant flavonoid found in orange juice. It plays a valuable role in the overall benefits of 100% orange juice, supporting cardiovascular health and cognition and helping to reduce inflammation.

Hydration
Almost 90% water

Phytonutrients
Flavonoids, Hesperidin, Naringin

Carotenoids
Beta-carotene, Alpha-carotene, Beta-crypto-xanthin, Lutein, Zeaxanthin

% Daily Value in Fortified Juices
Calcium 25%
Vitamin D 10%

Orange Juice Benefits

Thanks to its combination of nutrients, 100% orange juice is associated with a range of health benefits that are backed by research. These benefits relate to cardiovascular health, the immune system, performance and more.

Cardiovascular Health

100% OJ contributes a mix of heart-supporting nutrients and plant compounds, including vitamin C, folate, potassium and hesperidin. 100% orange juice also has no added sugar and is fat free and cholesterol free. This unique nutrition package helps support a healthy heart. Clinical studies have shown that drinking 100% orange juice may help:

Reduce total and LDL cholesterol^1,2,5
Increase HDL cholesterol^1,2,5
Reduce blood pressure^3,6
Reduce or not affect triglyceride levels^1,2,5
Reduce cardiovascular disease risk^4,5

Immune System Support

By delivering key vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds, 100% orange juice can help support a strong immune system.

Vitamin C, vitamin D (found in fortified juices), flavonoids and carotenoids play an important role.

Vitamin C strengthens the immune system by protecting cells and promoting the production and function of immune cells. One 8-ounce glass of 100% orange juice provides over 80% of the daily value for vitamin C.
Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating immune responses and helps immune cells fight off bacteria and viruses. Fortified 100% orange juice is a good source of vitamin D, providing 10% of the daily value in an 8-ounce glass.
Bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and carotenoids, support the immune system by fighting inflammation and improving cell communication, which can help strengthen the immune response.

100% orange juice also supports hydration — it’s almost 90% water and has naturally occurring electrolytes like potassium that help keep fluids balanced in the body. Proper hydration is essential for immune system function.

Performance

With a mix of water, electrolytes and other important nutrients, 100% orange juice supports hydration and recovery, which in turn supports performance.

Potassium helps maintain fluid balance and lactic acid.

Magnesium is essential for maintaining energy levels and plays a role in muscle relaxation, bone development and cardiovascular health.

Vitamin C in athletes has been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.⁷

B vitamins support energy metabolism.

Flavonoids like hesperidin are associated with an anti-inflammatory response.

Research has shown drinking 100% orange juice after exercise contributes to hydration just as well as sports drinks along with water intake.⁸

Additional 100% OJ Benefits

The advantages of drinking 100% orange juice don’t end there — its essential nutrients can support several other aspects of overall health. These benefits extend to:

Kidney health

Brain health

Respiratory health

Bone health

Weight management

Oral health

Skin health
Inflammation and oxidative stress

Health & Nutrition Resources

100% orange juice has a unique nutrition package, and there is a large body of evidence to support its role in overall health.

To dive deeper into OJ’s benefits and download resources to use with patients, visit our Tools & Materials page that includes toolkits for 100% orange juice and:

Nutrient Density

Year-Round Immunity

Cardiovascular Health

Performance & Hydration

References

Cesar TB, Aptekmann NP, Araujo MP, Vinagre CC, Maranhão RC. Orange juice decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic subjects and improves lipid transfer to high-density lipoprotein in normal and hypercholesterolemic subjects. Nutr Res. 2010 Oct;30(10):689-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2010.09.006. PMID: 21056284.
Dourado GK, Cesar TB. Investigation of cytokines, oxidative stress, metabolic, and inflammatory biomarkers after orange juice consumption by normal and overweight subjects. Food Nutr Res. 2015 Oct 20;59:28147. doi: 10.3402/fnr.v59.28147. PMID: 26490535; PMCID: PMC4613901.
Valls, Rosa M et al. “Effects of hesperidin in orange juice on blood and pulse pressures in mildly hypertensive individuals: a randomized controlled trial (Citrus study).” European journal of nutrition vol. 60,3 (2021): 1277-1288. doi:10.1007/s00394-020-02279-0 
Chaves DFS, Carvalho PC, Brasili E, Rogero MM, Hassimotto NA, Diedrich JK, Moresco JJ, Yates JR 3rd, Lajolo FM. Proteomic Analysis of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells after a High-Fat, High-Carbohydrate Meal with Orange Juice. J Proteome Res. 2017 Nov 3;16(11):4086-4092. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00476. PMID: 28927270.
L. N.Fraga, D.Milenkovic, I. de A. E.Duarte, et al. “A Global Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Body Weight-Specific Molecular Responses to Chronic Orange Juice Consumption in Healthy Individuals.” Molecular Nutrition & Food Research69, no. 24 (2025): e70299. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.70299
Morand C, Dubray C, Milenkovic D, Lioger D, Martin JF, Scalbert A, Mazur A. Hesperidin contributes to the vascular protective effects of orange juice: a randomized crossover study in healthy volunteers. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jan;93(1):73-80. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.110.004945. Epub 2010 Nov 10. PMID: 21068346.
Cara KC, Beauchesne AR, Wallace TC, Chung M. Effects of 100% Orange Juice on Markers of Inflammation and Oxidation in Healthy and At-Risk Adult Populations: A Scoping Review, Systematic Review, and Meta-analysis. Adv Nutr. 2022 Feb 1;13(1):116-137. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmab101. PMID: 34634114; PMCID: PMC8803484.
Kelly MR, Emerson DM, Landes EJ, Barnes ER, Gallagher PM (2020) Gastrointestinal Implications of Post-Exercise Orange Juice Consumption. J Nutr Health Sci 7(1): 101