Is bottled or canned orange juice good for you? Is pure fresh squeezed orange juice healthier than concentrate versions, such as those in a carton?ORAC tests were conducted for both the canned version and the fresh raw version. ORAC is a scientific formula used to measure how much antioxidants are within 100 grams of an ingredient.The results? The canned version without added sweetener (unsweetened) came in at 703. Raw orange juice was 726, which is only 3% higher. Therefore we can conclude both versions are equally nutritious, at least in terms of their antioxidant content. Other phytonutrients may differ between them, since the canned, carton, or jug version from concentrate has been pasteurized (brought to a temperature of at least 161 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds) which can change the chemical bonds and properties of many nutrients, including vitamin C. The reason your bottle of OJ still has vitamin C is because the manufacturer adds in ascorbic acid (artificial vitamin C) after the pasteurization process takes place. That which was naturally occurring was destroyed from the heat.
ORAC Source
USDA Database for the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods, Release 2 - Prepared by Nutrient Data Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center (BHNRC), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - May 2010