Simply orange juice is one of the most popular brands of orange juice you’ll find in grocery store refrigerators. It is made with not-from-concentrate juice and is gently pasteurized for safety while preserving taste and nutrition.
It comes in varieties of orange juice, such as Pulp free, Low acid, Calcium & vitamin D, High pulp, Medium pulp with Calcium & Vitamin D, and several other flavors.
And, while it is marketed as free from additives and preservatives, is Simply orange juice really healthy?
Short answer: Simply orange juice is healthy because it is made without concentrate, has no added sugar and is good source of calcium, vitamin C and D. However, it lacks fiber content.
Read on to find out more about Simply orange juice, including its ingredients, sugar content and more.
Also read: Is Jumex Healthy? The Truth About This Fruit Nectar
What are the ingredients in Simply orange juice?
The exact ingredient in Simply orange juice vary depending on the specific flavor.
In general, Simply orange juice is made from 100% pure, not-from-concentrate orange juice.
But what is not-from-concentrate juice?
Not-from-concentrate juice(NFC) is a juice that is made directly from fresh fruits without the addition of any water or other ingredients. These types of juices are more nutritious, fresh and flavorful and are typically more expensive than made from concentrated juices.
Aside from not-from-concentrate juice, other ingredients that you might find in Simply orange juice includes calcium phosphate & calcium lactate(calcium sources) and vitamin D3.
Simply orange juice is free from added sugar, artificial additives and preservatives.
However, it contains some added natural flavors.
How much sugar is in Simply orange juice?
Simply orange juice does not have any added sugar. However, it is naturally high in sugar, with most flavors containing 23g per serving (240ml).
Simply orange juice with mango is the flavor with the most sugar (25g per 240ml).
According to American Heart Association, men should not consume more than 36g of sugar per day, and women should not consume more than 24g.
Drinking just one serving(240ml) of Simply Orange Juice provides 63% of the daily sugar limit for men and 95% for women.
Although the sugar in Simply orange juice is not unhealthy or harmful as added sugar in other orange juices, it can still have the same negative effects if consumed in excess.
If compared to other popular juice brands, Simply orange juice contain almost the same sugar content.
Here is how Simply orange juice sugar content stacks up against other orange juice brands.
Juice brand | Added sugar(g) | Total sugar(g) |
---|---|---|
Simply orange juice | 0 | 23 |
Sunny D (tangy original) | 12 | 14 |
Minute maid (original) | 0 | 24 |
Tropicana (original) | 0 | 22 |
Florida’s natural (original no pulp) | 0 | 24 |
Is Simply orange juice good source of fiber?
Simply Orange Juice is not a good source of fiber, and the majority of its flavors do not contain any fiber.
Only the high pulp variant contains 1g of fiber per serving (240 ml).
Generally, oranges are known as a good source of fiber containing 3g of fiber in a medium-sized orange.
However, this fiber gets lost when a whole orange is converted into orange juice because fiber is found in pulp, which is usually removed during the juicing process.
Fiber is an important part of any fruit as it helps you feel satisfied, regular your blood sugar levels and prevents overeating.
But because Simply orange juice lacks fiber content, it easy to drink too much of it, potentially increasing sugar consumption.
Is Simply orange juice high in vitamin C?
Simply orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C providing 80% to 90% of the daily value.
Although not all Simply orange juice flavors show the amount of vitamin C on the nutrition label, they are all high in vitamin C and are labeled as such.
The three flavors that have listed vitamin C levels on the nutrition label include medium pulp with calcium and vitamin D, pulp free with calcium and vitamin D, and mango.
Is Simply orange juice good source of calcium and vitamin D?
Some flavors of Simply orange juice are fortified with calcium and vitamin D making them a good source of both nutrients.
These varieties include pulp free with calcium & vitamin D, and medium pulp with calcium & vitamin D.
Calcium and vitamin D are essential nutrients in any diet. Calcium helps in the formation of bones and teeth, while vitamin D helps in the better absorption of calcium.
Here is the table showing the calcium and vitamin D content of all Simply orange juice flavors.
Simply orange juice flavors | Vitamin D(mg) | Calcium(mg) |
---|---|---|
Pulp free | – | 20 |
Low acid | – | 100 |
Pulp free with calcium & vitamin D | 2.5 | 250 |
Medium pulp with calcium & vitamin D | 2.5 | 250 |
High pulp | – | 20 |
With mango | – | 20 |
With pineapple | – | 20 |
Is Simply orange juice good for weight loss?
Simply orange juice is not an ideal drink for weight loss due to it’s high natural sugar content and low fiber. However, you can still drink on a weight loss diet in moderation.
A single serving (240 ml) of Simply Orange Juice contains around 23g of natural sugar, which is too high if you want to lose weight.
In addition, there is no fiber in Simply orange juice to make you feel full. As a result, you might end up drinking too much of it, which can hinder all your weight loss efforts.
If you are on a weight loss diet, it’s better to opt for whole orange than orange juice.
Remember that weight loss doesn’t depend on one food but on your overall diet and lifestyle.
Is Simply orange juice healthier than Soda?
Simply orange juice is healthier than soda in every way. It is made from real orange juice and does not contain artificial flavors & colors, or preservatives.
In addition, it is a good source of vitamin C, calcium and vitamin D with several other nutrients. While on the other hand, Sodas are loaded with sugar with zero nutrition.
Here is a quick nutrition comparison of Simply orange juice to popular sodas like Coca-cola and Pepsi.
Nutrients | Simply orange juice(pulp free) | Coco cola | Pepsi |
---|---|---|---|
Calories | 50 | 44 | 43 |
Carbohydrates(g) | 10.8 | 10.9 | 10.9 |
Sugar(g) | 9.5 | 10.8 | 10.9 |
Protein(g) | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
Sodium(mg) | 0 | 8.5 | 11 |
Calcium(mg) | 8.3 | 0 | 0 |
Potassium(mg) | 187.5 | 0 | 0 |
Does Simply orange juice have caffeine?
Simply orange juice does not have caffeine as it is juice and not an energy drink.
Caffeine is mostly found in energy drinks or drinks marketed as boosting energy levels.
Simply orange juice is not advertised as providing caffeine, and also none of the ingredients have caffeine naturally.
Is Simply orange juice gluten-free?
Simple orange juice is gluten-free as it does contain any gluten-based ingredients.
Is Simply orange juice vegan?
The majority of Simply orange juice flavors are vegan as they are only made with not-from-concentrate juices.
However, some flavors, such as Calcium & Vitamin D and Medium Pulp with Calcium & Vitamin D, may not be vegan-friendly.
This is because these two flavors contain vitamin D3, which is usually sourced from animals.
Is Simply orange juice toxic?
Everyone knows that the Simply juices are marketed with a tag of “All natural”.
However, the company faced a lawsuit on December 28, 2022, after independent testing revealed the presence of a toxic chemical in their product.
According to lawsuit, the label of “All natural” is misleading and deceiving because it contains toxic chemical called PFAS.
Per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made chemicals that have been used in various industrial applications due to their water and grease-resistant properties.
These substances are commonly found in products like nonstick cookware, waterproof fabrics, and firefighting foams.
However, It’s important to note that the lawsuit does not target the Simply Orange Juice, which is their flagship product.
The product that was found to be containing PFAS is the Simply Tropical juice.
Simply Tropical juice is the one containing blend of pineapple juice, lemon juice, and mango puree.
Keep in mind that this information is based on the available details regarding the lawsuit, and it is important to stay updated on any further developments.
Final words
Simply orange juice is a healthy choice for you and there are many reasons for this such as:
- It is made with not-from-concentrate.
- It does not contain added sugar.
- It is free from artificial additives and preservatives.
- It is good source of calcium, vitamin C and D.
However, there are also couple of downsides to Simple orange juice such as:
- It lacks in fiber.
- It contains a significant amount of natural sugar.
However, despite high natural sugar content, you can enjoy Simply orange juice in moderation.
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