Does drinking orange juice have health benefits?

Key Points:

• Orange juice consumption in the U.S. has dropped by about half over the past 20 years due to higher prices, crop damage from disease and weather, and concerns over sugar content, according to Florida Citrus reports.
• A new international study led by the University of São Paulo found that regular orange juice intake modulates gene expression in immune cells, potentially improving blood pressure, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and cardiovascular health.
• The study highlights the role of citrus flavonoids like hesperidin and suggests that orange juice consumption may benefit the gut microbiome and reduce risks related to pre-diabetes and heart disease.
• In July, the FDA updated orange juice regulations for the first time in over 60 years, allowing slightly less sweet juice and increasing the allowable juice content from other citrus fruits from 10% to 15%, aiming to support U.S. growers amid crop challenges.
• The regulatory changes are intended to reduce costs, ease supply pressures, and create a more flexible market for American citrus producers without compromising juice quality or safety.