A cup (250ml) of 100% orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, containing more than 100% of the recommended Daily Value.*
About 90% of the vitamin C we eat comes from fruit and vegetables.4 Oranges and 100% orange juice are one of the richest sources of vitamin C.10 Grapefruit juice, kale and kiwi are also excellent sources of vitamin C.
Why is Vitamin C Important?
Vitamin C is an antioxidant found in food.1 Think of antioxidants as little bodyguards in your body that reduces damage to your cells and tries to protect you from different types of diseases.
Vitamin C also helps build teeth, bones, cartilage and gums.1-5
According to the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, vitamin C can help your body better absorb the iron from plant-based food2-5 and also helps regenerate vitamin E which is another antioxidant.2,4
DID YOU KNOW?
Fruit juice, such as Florida OJ, are reported to be the largest contributor of vitamin C in the diet.6
Through the Life Stages
Here’s why vitamin C is important at all life stages:
Kids, Teens &Young Adults
- Vitamin C helps build teeth, bones, cartilage and gums
- Vitamin C is a dietary antioxidant
Prenatal and Postnatal
- Iron needs increase during pregnancy,2 and vitamin C may promote the absorption of plant-based iron when consumed together2-5
- Vitamin C needs greatly increase during breastfeeding 2
- Vitamin C intake by mothers may influence the amount of vitamin C in breast milk;7 for example, drinking 3-5 servings of 100% orange juice per week doubled breast milk vitamin C concentrations8
Adults
- Vitamin C is an essential nutrient in an overall healthy diet
- Vitamin C is a dietary antioxidant – that’s good news for staying healthy
- Vitamin C needs increase during wound healing9
Learn more about the benefits Florida Orange Juice provides on the Nutrition Benefits page.
* Values based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrient values may vary based on manufacturer, brand, and product types.
References
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (2018, May 11)
- Vitamin C. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press; 2000:95-185.
- Vitamin C. Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center. Oregon State University.
- Lykkesfeldt et al. Adv Nutr 2014; 5:16-18.
- Vitamin C. Health Professionals Fact Sheet. Office of Dietary Supplements. National Institutes of Health.
- Statistics Canada, 2005 July 17. Main dietary sources of vitamin C, household population aged 1 or older, Canada, excluding territories, 2004.
- Bravi et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2016;104:646-62.
- Daneel-Otterbech et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005; 81:1088-1093.
- The A.S.P.E.N. Adult Nutrition Support Core Curriculum, 2nd Ed. American Society of Parental and Enteral Nutrition. 2012.
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28 (slightly revised). US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory; May 2016.