Many housewives regularly add orange juice to their family diet with the desire to help members supplement vitamin D effectively.
However, housewives need to distinguish between natural vitamin D and vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient, often found in fatty fish, eggs, liver and is synthesized by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight.
Oranges and tangerine fruits are almost non-containing natural vitamin D. Therefore, pure orange juice, self-prepared at home, is mainly rich in vitamin C, folate and antioxidants, not vitamin D.
In many countries, especially industrial products, orange juice is often increased in vitamin D and calcium to support bone health and overcome vitamin D deficiency in the community. In this case, the statement that "orange juice is rich in vitamin D" is only true when the consumer using orange juice clearly states that vitamin D is supplemented on the nutrition label. The vitamin D content is often moderate, helping to support daily needs but cannot completely replace major sources of vitamin D.
A note that housewives should pay attention to when using orange juice for the family is that orange juice rich in vitamin C can indirectly support overall health, help boost immunity and improve the ability to absorb certain minerals.
Although vitamin C does not help absorb vitamin D directly, combining orange juice to increase vitamin D with a balanced diet still brings positive benefits to the body, especially for people with less exposure to sunlight.
However, relying too much on orange juice to supplement vitamin D is unreasonable. Vitamin D needs to be absorbed with fat, while orange juice is almost fat-free.
Therefore, if you need to supplement vitamin D effectively, you should combine it with foods rich in healthy fats or follow appropriate nutritional instructions.