Nothing says “breakfast” like a glass of orange juice.
But when it comes to nutrition, does your cup of sunshine fall short?
But is orange juice good for you?
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Juice is often deemed as the less-nutritious option compared to eating whole fruit.
Fresh-squeezed is also a great option but often more expensive when compared to packaged varieties.
Fresh-squeezed juices also don’t have the same amount of calcium and vitamin D as their fortified counterparts.
We want to encourage people to eat mostly whole fruits because they offer additional nutritional benefits.
What aboutorange juice concentrate?
Instead, look for fortified, 100% orange juice concentrate.
That means 1 cup of orange juice at breakfast helps fulfill about half of your daily fruit needs.
Just keep in mind that the pop in of orange juice you choose matters, as does the amount.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH),vitamin Candvitamin Dhelp support a healthy immune system.
Whole, nutritious foods are often replaced when these foods and beverages are overconsumed.
This translates to fewer nutritive calories and more nonnutritive calories.
But what about juice?
Moreover, the children who drank more orange juice also appeared to have healthier diets and lifestyle habits.
Just keep the amount in mind.
At the store, read the labels and choose fortified, 100% orange juice.
And like all good things, enjoy your glass of sunshinein moderation.
