About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Facts and Fictions of Fruit Juice

by VR Sreeraman on July 16, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Font : A-A+

 Facts and Fictions of Fruit Juice

Drinking a glass of 100 percent fruit juice has long been thought of as a healthy daily habit for both adults and children. However, people are somewhat confused especially about the quantity like how much to drink or how much to serve their children.

According to Dr. Theresa Nicklas, professor of pediatrics with Baylor College of Medicine, who has conducted research on juice consumption among children, parents should be confident serving their children appropriate amounts of 100 percent fruit juice.

Advertisement

Appropriate amounts, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, are 4-6 ounces of 100 percent juice daily for children 1-6 years old, and 8-12 ounces daily for older children from ages 7-18. The AAP statement, as well as the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, includes guidelines for incorporating 100 percent juice as a fruit serving.

Here are a few other fruitful points about juice, from the Juice Products Association:

Are whole fruits a better source of nutrients than juice?
Advertisement

Not necessarily. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that a majority of consumers' daily fruit servings come from whole fruit, but adults and children are notorious under-consumers of fruit. A serving of 100 percent fruit juice is a convenient way to help meet the recommended servings of fruit. Fruit juices also provide substantial contributions of several nutrients in higher amounts in the diet than do whole fruits, including vitamin C, folate and potassium. In addition, 100 percent fruit juice contains many naturally occurring phytonutrients that contribute to good health.

Does fruit juice have a lot of sugar and calories?

No. 100 percent fruit juice has a similar sugar profile to fruit. The way nutritionists look at foods and beverages is in terms of "nutrient density" - or the amount of vitamins and nutrients the food provides for its calories. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans acknowledge the role 100 percent fruit juice can play in the diet. .

Does fruit juice make children fat?

No. The majority of research conducted on 100 percent fruit juice consumption in children does not show a connection to weight. As a child nutrition researcher, Dr. Nicklas states that there are many factors associated with childhood obesity that are very poorly understood and more research is needed regarding diet and also lifestyle and activity levels.

Two recently published studies which investigated the relationship between 100 percent juice consumption and children's bodyweight support the conclusion that consumption of 100 percent juice is not associated with overweight or risk of overweight among children. In fact, the research conducted by Dr. Nicklas and her colleagues also demonstrated that children consuming 100 percent juice had higher intake of certain nutrients, such as vitamin C, iron and folate, and lower intake of total fat, saturated fat and added sugar. Her study is based on the largest, ongoing government database on food consumption (NHANES - National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey).

Does fruit juice increase the risk of diabetes?

Extensive research has never linked juice intake with an increased risk for diabetes. A recent analysis of the most recent NHANES data (sponsored by the Juice Products Association, not yet published) has concluded that fruit juice consumption does not cause an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome (a precursor to pre- and type 2 diabetes) or negatively affect glucose or insulin levels. In fact, the data actually show that 100 percent fruit juice consumption is associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome.

Source: Newswise
SRM
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Diet & Nutrition News

Enhancing Athletes' Diets With Colorful Foods Improves Visual Range, Reveals Study
By incorporating colorful fruits and vegetables into athletes' diets, their visual range could be improved, says a new study.
Fruit Juice: A Healthy Dietary Choice for Teen Girls
Kids drinking more than 1 cup of fruit juice per day, had lower body mass index BMI than those children who didn't consume juice at all.
Rejuvenating Your Brain With a Green Mediterranean Diet
The research highlighted the importance of consuming green Mediterranean diet, including lower consumption of processed food in maintaining optimal brain health.
Fresh Food for a Fresh Start: Overcoming Health Vulnerabilities!
By adopting clean eating and incorporating fresh foods, individuals can protect themselves against potential health issues, posed by today's fast-paced society.
How Can Common Sweetener Damage DNA?
Sucralose-6-acetate commonly found in sweeteners is tagged as genotoxic. The chemical was found to damage the DNA in cells.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Facts and Fictions of Fruit Juice Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests