The Not-So-Healthy Juices




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Summary: Think juice is a healthy soda alternative? Think again. Many juice drinks contain more sugar than soft drinks.According to the Huffington Post, PepsiCo agreed to settle out of court for $9 million over a class action lawsuit that claimed the phrases of 'natural' and 'non-GMO' on their Naked Juice products were misleading. In fact, the juices are made with GMO ingredients, synthetic and 'unnatural' items. So, if you can't trust products like Naked Juice, what types of juices are good for you? 100% Orange juice, for example, is a convenient and great-tasting way to meet nutrient needs, providing vitamin C, potassium and calcium. But many experts say the biggest issue is juice isn't filling like whole fruits. Vegetable juice is packed with fiber that can help control hunger. It generally has far less sugar and fewer calories than fruit juice, but it is high in sodium (unless you choose the low sodium version). Many juice drinks contain more sugar than other soft drinks because of the artificial sugars added in – unless they are 100% fruit. Juices can have an effect on your weight and blood glucose, since the higher the sugar content in juice drinks, the higher the calorie count. The easy and practical way to avoid the types of juice drinks that are unhealthy for you and your family is by reading the labels. 100% juice with no sugar added and low sodium are healthy drink choices. These drinks do not have the calories and carbohydrates like other beverage alternatives, and they provide important vitamins and minerals. Here's another thing to consider... fruit juice contains the same nutrients that are found in whole fruit, but do not contain all of the fiber. Fiber helps to slow down the digestion and absorption of the natural sugars found in fruit. Fiber also helps to fill you up and keep you feeling fuller longer, while juice won't have that same effect. Whole fruit and vegetables are important for weight loss because of the high fiber, but also because of the high water content, which makes you feel more full with fewer calories - a requirement for weight loss and maintenance. Licensed and registered dietitian, Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD, shares the healthiest juices you should be drinking and the ones to avoid.