Tuesday, April 07, 2009
All juice is not created equal
It may have happened to you. You are just about to load juice into your grocery cart when the label catches your eye – “contains 7 percent fruit juice.”
Not exactly what you had in mind. This type sugary drink should be avoided at all costs.
Meanwhile, health experts continue to stress that eating more servings of fruits and vegetables is extremely important for good health.
Drinking 100% fruit juice is an easy way to boost your fruit intake. Plus, fruit juices add variety to your diet and taste good, too.
According to the American Dietetic Association and www.eatright.org:
* 100% fruit juices are a valuable source of certain vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Research is underway to determine how they actually maintain good health.
* 100% juice can count as a fruit serving. Nutrition recommendations in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage increased intake of fruits, as well as vegetables, low-fat or fat-free milk and whole grains. Research shows that children who consume 100% juices have overall healthier diets than those who do not consume juices. One-half (4 oz) cup of 100% fruit juice equals 1/2 cup from the fruit group. While most fruit servings should come from whole fruits, a portion of the daily fruit intake can be from 100% fruit juice.
* To determine if a product is 100% juice, the container label must state that it is, usually near the Nutrition Facts panel on the back of the label for individuals above two years of age.
* According to the American Dietetic Association’s Evidence Analysis Library, juice intake is not related to obesity in children unless consumed in unusually large quantities. However, excess calories from any food or beverage can contribute to children and adults becoming overweight. The whole family can enjoy 100% juice as part of a healthy diet.
Despite the benefits of real juice, there are guidelines that should be followed for children. Infants under six months of age should not be given juice at all, and juice should never be fed by bottle to small children.
Additional information is available at www.fruitjuicefacts.org.
Wendy Kane is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator in the Backus Hospital Diabetes Management Center. This advice should not replace the advice from your physician. Email Ms. Kane and all the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org or comment on their blog at www.healthydocs.blogspot.com.
Not exactly what you had in mind. This type sugary drink should be avoided at all costs.
Meanwhile, health experts continue to stress that eating more servings of fruits and vegetables is extremely important for good health.
Drinking 100% fruit juice is an easy way to boost your fruit intake. Plus, fruit juices add variety to your diet and taste good, too.
According to the American Dietetic Association and www.eatright.org:
* 100% fruit juices are a valuable source of certain vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Research is underway to determine how they actually maintain good health.
* 100% juice can count as a fruit serving. Nutrition recommendations in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage increased intake of fruits, as well as vegetables, low-fat or fat-free milk and whole grains. Research shows that children who consume 100% juices have overall healthier diets than those who do not consume juices. One-half (4 oz) cup of 100% fruit juice equals 1/2 cup from the fruit group. While most fruit servings should come from whole fruits, a portion of the daily fruit intake can be from 100% fruit juice.
* To determine if a product is 100% juice, the container label must state that it is, usually near the Nutrition Facts panel on the back of the label for individuals above two years of age.
* According to the American Dietetic Association’s Evidence Analysis Library, juice intake is not related to obesity in children unless consumed in unusually large quantities. However, excess calories from any food or beverage can contribute to children and adults becoming overweight. The whole family can enjoy 100% juice as part of a healthy diet.
Despite the benefits of real juice, there are guidelines that should be followed for children. Infants under six months of age should not be given juice at all, and juice should never be fed by bottle to small children.
Additional information is available at www.fruitjuicefacts.org.
Wendy Kane is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator in the Backus Hospital Diabetes Management Center. This advice should not replace the advice from your physician. Email Ms. Kane and all the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org or comment on their blog at www.healthydocs.blogspot.com.
# posted by ----------------- @ 2:55 PM 
