Written by Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Registered Dietitian
Updated January 24, 2025
According to Innovative Market Insights, approximately two-thirds of Americans drink juice at least once a week.(1) Of all beverage choices including coffee, bottled water, iced tea, and carbonated beverages, juice ranks fifth in most chosen beverages.(1) About 44% of Americans drink juice because it was a healthy beverage option.(1) The largest consumers of juice appear to be Generation Z and Millennials.(1)
Despite these findings, the Florida Department of Citrus reports 100% fruit juice consumption is at a decline.(2) In the 2021 State of the Plate: America’s Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Trends published by Produce for Better Health Foundation reported fruit and vegetable consumption has declined by 10% each day over 15-years.(3)
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 (DGA) recommends Americans to consume 1-½ to 2 cups of fruit per day.(4) One serving (1-cup) of Florida Natural’s® orange juice can help achieve the DGA goal!
Nutritional Benefits
Orange juice, or juice in general, is often looked down upon as it is viewed as a high-sugary drink. Choosing 100% fruit juice like Florida’s Natural® promises no added sugars or artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes. The natural sweetness is purely from fructose, a naturally occurring carbohydrate. Fructose is low on the glycemic index at 20-25. Much lower than glucose which is rated at 100; therefore, fructose does not spike blood sugars as high.(5)
Orange juice may be a source of fiber when one chooses juice with pulp. Orange pulp contains insoluble fiber which is indigestible, but also acts as a source of prebiotic to feed our gut bacteria. A literature review reports daily consumption of orange juice at 4-cups or more reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol.(7) Insoluble fiber works by acting as a prebiotic to feed gut bacteria. The gut bacteria produces short-chain fatty acids from eating insoluble fiber. Short-chain fatty acids increases bile acid production, reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed into the bloodstream from digestion.(8) Do note eating whole oranges however is a better source of fiber than orange juice with pulp.
A 1-cup serving of orange juice provides approximately 15% of your recommended daily needs of Vitamin B9, or folate. Folate is a necessary ingredient to support the production of several hormones including serotonin (good mood), norepinephrine (relaxation), and melatonin (sleep).
Orange Dreamsicle Smoothie
Adapted from Sally, Sally’s Baking Addiction, July 14, 2021.
What You Need
- 1 frozen ripe banana, previously peeled & sliced
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Florida Natural’s® orange juice
- 3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1 orange, peeled and sliced
- optional: 2 teaspoons orange zest
What You Do
- Make sure you have a strong, powerful blender to break down the frozen banana and orange.
- On high, blend the frozen banana chunks, vanilla, and orange juice together until thick, creamy, and smooth – about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. Add the yogurt, orange, and orange zest (if using). Blend until combined.
References
- Innovative Market Insights. Juice market trends in the US. May 1, 2024. Accessed January 24, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/trends/juice-market-trends-in-the-us/
- Florida Department of Citrus. Decline in consumption of 100% fruit juice contributes to worrying trends for Americans. n.d. Accessed January 24, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.floridacitrus.org/grower/fdoc-news-item/decline-in-consumption-of-100-fruit-juice-contributes-to-worrying-trend-for-americans/
- Calligaro K. The state of the plate: new research reveals America’s fruit and vegetable consumption is eroding. Produce for Better Health Foundation. February 23, 2021. Accessed January 24, 2025. Retrieved from https://fruitsandveggies.org/news/the-state-of-the-plate-new-research-reveals-americas-fruit-vegetable-consumption-is-eroding/
- United States Department of Agriculture. The dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf
- Cozma AI, Sievenpiper JL, de Souza RJ, Chiavaroli L, Ha V, et al. Effect of fructose on glycemic control in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled feeding trials. Diabetes Care. 2012; 35(7):1611-1620. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc12-0073
- Amini MR, Sheikhossein F, Bazshahi E, Rahimi H, Ghalandari H, Ghaedi E, Askarpour M. Orange juice intake and lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. J Nutr Sci. 2023; 12:e37. doi: 10.1017/jns.2023.22
- Xiong RG, Zhou DD, Wu SI, Huang SY, Salmaiti A, et al. Health benefits and side effects of short-chain fatty acids. Foods. 2022; 11(18):2863. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11182863
