Study squeezes out the best orange juices

Picking out orange juice used to be so simple. Now, supermarket shelves are stocked full of choices.

To help people choose a good orange juice, Consumer Reports pitted Tropicana Original Pure Premium against Tropicana orange juices calcium plus vitamin D, Antioxidant Advantage, Healthy Kids and Healthy Heart with Omega-3s. All contained no pulp.

All of the juices contained the same amount of calories, sugars, potassium and at least 100 percent of the recommended daily vitamin C per serving.

“We found all the juices tasted pretty much the same,” said Erin Gudeux, of Consumer Reports.

They are all about the same price.

But do the extras make the juices any healthier?

The juices containing calcium have as much as a glass of skim milk, and as much vitamin D.

But what about the rest of the extras? Experts say people would be better off getting added vitamins from foods they eat instead of from a fortified product.

Consumer Reports also took a look at Trop 50, which contains 50 percent less sugar than regular orange juice.

“The testers said that it had a thinner consistency and a less intense orange juice flavor. And it also costs more,” Gudeux said.

To cut calories and sugar from regular orange juice, experts say people can add seltzer or water to it.

Consumer Reports said when it comes to antioxidants, there's no reason to buy foods fortified with them. The American Heart Association said it's not necessary for people to take antioxidant supplements, either.

Consumer Reports said it is better for people to eat antioxidant-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables.