It may not officially be summer yet, but with temperatures heating up, Steve Johnson, chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, has a reminder about the value of drinking orange juice (OJ) for hydration.
“A glass of orange juice is a great hydration option in addition to water since it naturally contains a high percentage of water — almost 90%, says Johnson. “And, just like its sports drink counterparts, it provides electrolytes such as potassium, which helps us keep our fluid levels balanced. Additionally, orange juice has no added sugar and provides vitamins and minerals our bodies need.”
According to Johnson, a research study published by the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) shows that 100% OJ is just as good as sports drinks and water for recovery after exercise. “The department has been using these findings to educate consumers on the benefits of hydrating with Florida orange juice through media interviews with our registered dietitian partners and on social media,” he says. “These efforts are increased during the hot summer months when families may be looking for other natural beverage options to supplement water intake at the soccer and baseball fields.”
Johnson provides details on additional FDOC efforts to promote hydration with OJ. “In a recent article published in Eat This, Not That!, registered dietitian and FDOC partner Lauren Manaker said hydrating with orange juice can help keep our kidneys healthy and may reduce the risk of developing kidney stones,” he says. “Registered dietitian and FDOC partner Mia Syn suggested viewers of a recent broadcast news segment turn to a glass of orange juice to replenish electrolytes lost through sweat.”
Johnson adds that the FDOC is highlighting OJ’s role in hydration through several social media posts, including one that suggests adding frozen Florida orange juice cubes to water is a fun way to encourage kids to stay hydrated without added sugar.
In the most recent Nielsen retail sales report, OJ sales remain strong when compared to pre-COVID 2019 sales data. “For the four-week period ending April 24, 2021, average year-over-year sales of total OJ are up by 5 percent compared to 2019 values with 31.85 million equivalent gallons. This is largely driven by NFC (not-from-concentrate) OJ sales,” says Johnson.
Source: Florida Department of Citrus
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