What Happens to Your Cold Symptoms When You Drink Orange Juice

Orange juice is a popular home remedy for colds and other upper respiratory infections because of its rich vitamin C content. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that supports immune function and may ease cold symptoms. While orange juice is a good source of vitamin C, more research is needed to determine if it actually has a meaningful impact on cold symptoms.

Orange juice is rich in folate, vitamin C, and other nutrients that may reduce inflammation in the body. A small 2022 study found that drinking 100% orange juice may reduce inflammation due to its high flavonoid content. Flavonoids are antioxidants that protect cells from damage and inflammation.  

This anti-inflammatory effect may ease cold symptoms because the common cold causes inflammation in the membranes of the nose and throat. Research has found that drinking orange juice can lower inflammatory markers in the blood. However, more research is needed to determine if orange juice is an effective treatment for the common cold. 

Orange juice is rich in vitamin C, which may help ease cold symptoms when taken in high doses. A 2023 analysis of past research found that taking high-dose vitamin C supplements of 1,000 milligrams or more daily can shorten the duration of a cold and reduce the symptoms. However, a glass of orange juice does not contain this much vitamin C, so it is unclear if drinking it can improve cold symptoms or shorten the duration of a cold. 

Orange juice is rich in citric acid, an acid found in citrus fruits. Consuming citric acid can trigger gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and irritate the throat. It can also increase mucus production, exacerbating cold symptoms such as a runny nose and cough. 

If you have a sore throat with your cold, consider avoiding orange juice until you feel better. Other fruit juices that may irritate the throat include grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, and grape juice. 

If you find a glass of orange juice soothing when you have a cold, there is no reason to avoid it. However, if you have a sore throat or productive cough, you may want to limit your orange juice intake until you feel better.

When you have a cold, make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and thin mucus secretions. Other hydrating drinks that won’t irritate your throat include herbal tea, hot water with honey, broth, and soup.