They found that middle-aged men, who drank half a liter of juice every day for a month (about two glasses), showed a significant drop in their blood pressure readings.
The results were published in the journal American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and confirm the presence of a natural plant chemical called hesperidin, responsible for this effect on blood pressure, which is also found in plant foods such as tea, fruits, soybeans and cocoa.
Although previous studies have suggested that orange juice may be good for the heart, scientists have not yet defined exactly what gives it its protective powers.
High blood pressure puts more pressure on our arteries when the heart beats, affecting one in five people and is one of the main risk factors that contribute to cardiac arrest.
La World Health Organization an estimated 50 percent of all heart attacks and strokes are due to high blood pressure.