For years, fruit juices have been considered as a healthy substitute for soft drinks. Its marketed that way. But many don’t realise that today, packaged fruit juices are just processed sugar-bombs, which possibly pose some serious health risks.
Many parents purchase expensive branded packaged juice thinking its an investment in their childrens health.
Packaged juices are an illusion of health. Especially when compared to fresh fruit juice or whole fruits. Sometimes the sugar content in these things is as high, sometimes even higher than in soft drinks! And yes, even the ones labelled no added sugar. Right from the processing practices, to the fact that food companies don’t include the entire truth on the packaging – it’s a sad, recycled lie that people are led to believe.
When it comes to processed packaged juices, here’s what goes on behind the scenes –
- The heat treatment involved in the making process causes the juice to lose all the essential vitamins. Often, synthetic vitamins are ADDED, as those present in fruit cannot survive the pasteurization process.
- In order to increase the shelf life, many potentially h armful preservatives are added.
- Packed juices often contain Patulin – a chemical usually found in rotting apples, which indicates poor quality of fruits used to make the juice.
Studies suggest that consumption of packaged juices contribute to fat build-up and insulin resistance. Synthetic vitamins, added sugar, excessive processing, and lack of nutrients cause diet-related metabolic problems, diabetes, and have an adverse effect on the digestive tract.
Despite all this information so easily available, it’s sad to see that people still tend to fall for the marketing tactics of companies that do all they can to make the fruit juices more appealing – just like any other processed food.
With no fibre content, excessive sugar and insufficient nutrients, most of these processed juices are essentially just fruit-flavoured sugar water. So why substitute nutritious fresh fruit or fresh fruit juice with packaged juices at all? Is it really worth the convenience or the nutrition that you’re losing out on?
My family and I have realised the importance of fresh juices from fresh fruits and vegetables in our diet, however it’s not always practical to do juicing at home. Another aspect of making juice at home is the nutritional content starts to go down the moment the vitamins and phytonutrients come in contact with free radicals in the air. So using a regular centrifugal juicer with high speed kills many nutritients even if you consume it immediately. One actually would need to use a slow masticating / slow centrifugal juicer, in order for micronutrients to be preserved, and the decent brands cost in range rs 15-20,000. Another aspect of fruit juice is you get all the fruitsugars and NONE of the fiber, which is not ideal.
So personally we are limiting fruit juice to making ourselves maybe 1-2 per week. And NEVER ever drink packaged juices. we make up for it by using quality natural vitamin supplements. Having a well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies that provide you with essential nutrients, fibre and antioxidants is key! Plus adding quality vitamin / phyto nutrient supplements is not a bad idea!
References:
1.https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fruit-juice-is-just-as-bad-as-soda#section1
2.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/is-packaged-fruit-juice-healthy/articleshow/15529421.cms
3.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulin
