Juicy Myths

Sometimes fruit juice is not a good choice. There are several reasons why you should be careful before you drink a fruit juice. First, drinking too much juice may cause you to ignore other nutritious foods. Secondly, fruit juices can contribute to dental caries. Third, fruit juice is not a substitute for fruit because the juices are less nutritious than fruit. Finally, excessive consumption of fruit juices may cause obesity since fruit juices have lots of calories. Sometimes, corn syrup is added to the fruit juices – and we all know that corn syrup has loads of calories! For these reasons, you might want to reconsider your choice of beverage when you reach for a twelve ounce bottle of apple juice.

Don’t forget to read the food labels on juices. It is important to see what you are really getting because many juices have added sugar and preservatives which dilute the nutritional value. Corn syrup is a commonly added which is bad because it aids in obesity and the irregulation of blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Another reason to read the label is to see the serving size, something many Americans rarely do. The average serving of juice is ½ cup at a time. Most of us drink way more than that. Infants under six months shouldn’t be given juice and younger kids should have only 4-6 ounces a day while older kids can have 8-12. Food labels tell us what we’re getting and how much so they are a crucial part of eating.

Juice does not equal fruit. It is not a substitute for your fruit intake. Here are some other ways to get fruit into your diet. Fruit popsicles with whole fruit and no added sugar. They fool your mind as being a treat and they’re a healthy refreshing snack. Smoothies are not only made with whole fruit, but milk or yogurt for protein too. There are endless kinds of smoothies so you can easily edit them to your likings and they’re quick and easy. Incorporating fruit into your other meals like adding it to cereal or salads are also other easy alternatives. You can add fruit to sandwiches for sweetness and nutrients. With these suggestions, you can easily add more fruit to your diet. But just drinking juice isn’t adequate for daily fruit intake.