Orange juice beverage, 40-50% juice, light
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a light, refreshing orange juice beverage that blends a modest amount of real juice with water and often a touch of sweetener. It delivers a familiar, sweet-tart citrus flavor in a thinner, less pulpy texture than pure juice. Nutritionally, it's a very low-calorie option, providing a hint of vitamin C without the full sugar load of 100% juice.
Calorie split: 4% protein · 96% carbs · 0% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for delivering a satisfying, nostalgic orange flavor with significantly fewer calories and less sugar than full-strength juice, making it an easy, guilt-free refreshment.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary downside is the sugar content (4.17g/100g), which can cause blood-sugar spikes if consumed in large amounts, especially by those managing diabetes. To counteract this, pair it with a source of protein or healthy fat (like a handful of nuts or yogurt) to slow sugar absorption, and practice portion control by limiting intake to a single serving.
Key benefits
- Very low calorie density (21 kcal/100g)
- Provides a quick source of energy from simple carbohydrates
- A hydrating alternative to sugary sodas
- Offers a familiar citrus flavor for those who dislike plain water
- Contains some naturally occurring vitamin C from the juice content
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'light' or 'reduced sugar' version of this beverage often achieves its lower calorie count not just by diluting juice with water, but by adding non-nutritive sweeteners like sucralose or stevia, which are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 94.2 g |
| Energy | 21.0 kcal |
| Protein | 0.21 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.00 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 5.4 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 4.2 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 0.00 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.00 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 10.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 4.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 188 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 4.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.02 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.02 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 30.0 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.06 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.03 mg |
| Niacin | 0.33 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.05 mg |
| Folate, total | 10.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 10.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 10.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 10.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 79.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 2.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 60.0 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 47.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.3 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 1.3 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Orange juice, chilled, includes from concentrate, with added calcium and vitamins A, D, E — USDA does not publish this profile for Orange juice beverage.
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.01 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.00 g |
| Leucine | 0.01 g |
| Lysine | 0.02 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.01 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.00 g |
| Valine | 0.01 g |
| Arginine | 0.08 g |
| Histidine | 0.00 g |
| Alanine | 0.02 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.11 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.04 g |
| Glycine | 0.01 g |
| Proline | 0.08 g |
| Serine | 0.02 g |
FAQ
How is this different from 100% orange juice?
This beverage contains only 40-50% actual orange juice, with the rest being water, sweeteners, and often added vitamin C. 100% juice is undiluted and has a higher calorie and natural sugar content per serving.
Is it a good source of vitamins?
While it may contain some vitamin C from the juice and often has added ascorbic acid, it is not a significant source of other vitamins or minerals like potassium or folate, which are more concentrated in pure, unfiltered juice.
Can I use this in cooking or baking?
Yes, it can be used in marinades, glazes, and light sauces where you want orange flavor without the intensity or sugar of full-strength juice. However, it may not provide enough pectin for jam-making.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.21 kcal/g · 4% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 4.2 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.02 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.