A glass of orange juice at breakfast, or any time during the day, can be a refreshing treat as well as a source of essential nutrients. As part of an overall balanced diet, orange juice may help lower high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for stroke, heart disease and kidney disease. Many additional factors also contribute to your blood pressure, and it is important to follow your doctor's advice for controlling your blood pressure.
Potassium
Potassium is an essential mineral for maintaining a healthy blood pressure or lowering high blood pressure, and most adults should get at least 4,700 mg per day, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. Orange juice is a good source of potassium with 443 mg in 1 cup. Other potassium-rich foods include other fruits and vegetables and their juices, fish, beans and dairy products.
Sodium
You may be able to lower your blood pressure by reducing your sodium consumption. Each 1 cup of orange juice has 5 mg sodium, so it can easily fit into a low-sodium diet. Healthy adults should have no more than 2,300 mg sodium per day, and you may have a limit of 1,500 mg per day if you already have high blood pressure. Orange juice has 117 calories in 1 cup, so drink it only in moderation to avoid unwanted weight gain, which could cause an increase in your blood pressure.
Vitamin C and Calcium
Orange juice provides 84 mg vitamin C, or 140 percent of the daily value, in 1 cup. Some research suggests that high intake of vitamin C may lower blood pressure in individuals with hypertension, but this is not definite, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Adequate calcium intake can help maintain healthy blood pressure, and fortified orange juice provides 500 mg calcium, or 50 percent of the daily value.
Recommendations
An eating plan that may lower blood pressure or prevent hypertension is the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, diet. The diet suggests the number of servings from each food group depending on your daily calorie needs. If you're on a 2,000-calorie diet, you should have four to five servings of fruits per day from the fruits group, and 1/2 cup of orange juice counts as one serving.
