IS

Fruit Juice

ACTUALLY BAD FOR YOU?

WRITTEN BY:

EDITED BY:

MEG

ABIGAIL FEWEL, MS, RD, LDN

Fruit juices are great. They are yummy and seemingly provide the body with vitamins and minerals But are they really all that healthy for us? Are there juices that should be avoided?

Commercial juices undergo pasteurization to kill germs and increase their shelf life. But this process also decreases the nutritional value of the drinks because vitamins are vulnerable to heat. Many pasteurized juices also add sweeteners and food coloring.

PASTEURIZED JUICES HAVE LESS NUTRITIONAL VALUE

Commercial juices are not just less nutritious. They are also full of added sugars. There are better brands out there, but you have to find them by looking at the ingredients on the nutritional fact panel on their packaging. If there are ingredients listed other than fruit, you may want to look elsewhere.

Many commercial juices are packed with sugar

A juice detox involves cutting out all food and ‘detoxing’ by living off juice alone, but this is not a great way to lose weight because you can regain the lost weight or even more when you go back to your normal diet. Sustained juice detoxes deprive your body of fat, fiber, and protein, all of which keep you satiated.

Juice detoxes are an unstable way to lose weight

Fruit juices don’t contain the fiber of the whole fruits, making them a more concentrated source of sugar. Vitamins found in juices are also water-soluble, so they are excreted from the body after a certain point. For instance, if you are on your third or fourth glass of juice, you may as well be drinking sugar water.

Fruit juices are not replacements for real and solid fruits

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The best way to guarantee that your fruit juices are fresh and free of added ingredients is to make them at home. If you have a juicer, you can easily make homemade fruit juices. You can create healthier juices that reduce the number of fruit and add in much needed veggies

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Fruit juices can be great if you consume them in moderation. Look for juices that are organic, unpasteurized, or freshly pressed. Avoid those that have added sugars, concentrates, or food coloring.

Want to learn more about juices and their effect on health? Visit Drink Filtered.