Fruit juice not as healthy as fresh fruit

[ADoyle90815]

I thought this article in yesterday's(Sun) LA Times was interesting, that fruit juice isn't as healthy as eating fresh fruit because of concentrated fructose. Now, the occasional juice or the spiced cider during the Christmas season is fine if it's done in moderation, but it seems as if we're better off eating an apple or other fruit.

It's time fruit juice loses its wholesome image, some experts say -- latimes.com

[hordak]

I thought this article in yesterday's(Sun) LA Times was interesting, that fruit juice isn't as healthy as eating fresh fruit because of concentrated fructose. Now, the occasional juice or the spiced cider during the Christmas season is fine if it's done in moderation, but it seems as if we're better off eating an apple or other fruit.

It's time fruit juice loses its wholesome image, some experts say -- latimes.com

Tell that to my hero, jack

http://thm-a02.yimg.com/image/00df7ac4ef35a61c

[Gretchen]

Fruit juices contain more sugar, ounce for ounce, than soda pop. Just a little fun fact.

[Carltoned]

In my opinion, fruits juices are not healthy and good as fresh juices. Fresh mean it have bundle of vitamins and minerals. and in fruits juices there are less vitamins and minerals.

Vitamins are essential for the healthy body tissues and cells.

It build strong muscles and bone...

I always use fresh fruits instead of fruits juices...

[Guest]

There's fruit juice and then there's FRUIT JUICE.

I got a Breville juicer and so we drink juice a lot. Of course, the fresh fruit and vegetable is very nutritional without the hassle of breaking out the juicer and cleaning it up afterwards. But, try asking your 8-year-old to eat a carrot and a celery. Hah! So, the juicer comes in handy because you can put a carrot and a celery and one small apple right into the juicer and my kids fight over who gets to drink some.

"Processed" fruit juice is not as good because the jillions of enzymes that provide the benefits out of fresh fruit juice is destroyed in the processing, so they have to add it right back using artificial additives. The home juicer is a better option because you drink the juice right after it is extracted from the fresh fruit, keeping most of the enzymes.

Now, there is a benefit to fresh fruit/veggie juice compared to the whole fruit/veggie. There are several nutrients that the body cannot absorb when eating fruits/veggies because those nutrients are locked into the fiber of the fruit/veggie. Juicing it breaks down these fibers to release the nutrient. Now, on the other side of the coin, you lose a lot of that beneficial fiber in the juice form. So, if you want more fiber, go with the fresh fruit. If you want more minerals, go with the juice.

Gotta be careful with the home juicers though... it's easy to overdose on it. When you "drink" your fruit and veggies you get high energy density which is high calorie and could shot up your glycemic index. My rule of thumb is: I only drink the juice of the amount of fruit/veggie I can consume raw. For example, 1 cup of carrot juice is equivalent to 5 cups of raw carrot. I'm not eating 5 cups of carrot... When you have to bite and chew your food, you can eat a cup of carrot and you're done eating. When you bypass all that chewing and drink the carrot, you can drink 5 cups worth of raw carrots before your body realizes it and gives the satisfied signal.

Like everything else... fresh fruit/veggie juice and whole fruit/veggie needs to be taken in balance. Whole here, juice there, mix it up and make life more interesting and healthier!

[Backroads]

I'd figured it had to do something with the concentration. To me, juicing is the above anatess-style. That's what juice is! I couldn't figure out why juice was getting such a bad rap.

[Guest micalhassi]

Fruit juice is consider more healthy as compare to eating fruits. It contain more vitamins and minerals. Body builds & weight lifters like to drink juice after every 2 hours to maintain energy level. Eat some fruits in breakfast mostly. These are the best and easy source of getting energy. Strong muscles mass need large amount of calories.

[applepansy]

Tell that to my hero, jack

http://thm-a02.yimg.com/image/00df7ac4ef35a61c

There is a difference between store bought apple juice and freshly made apple juice from a Jack LaLane Juicer. Some of the fiber is still there and the fructose isn't refined. Its still better to eat the apple. The problem is you can't eat enough apples to get all the nutrients you need.

[Over43]

The Breville Juicer: Did you watch Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead by chance? Great documentary.

There's fruit juice and then there's FRUIT JUICE.

I got a Breville juicer and so we drink juice a lot. Of course, the fresh fruit and vegetable is very nutritional without the hassle of breaking out the juicer and cleaning it up afterwards. But, try asking your 8-year-old to eat a carrot and a celery. Hah! So, the juicer comes in handy because you can put a carrot and a celery and one small apple right into the juicer and my kids fight over who gets to drink some.

"Processed" fruit juice is not as good because the jillions of enzymes that provide the benefits out of fresh fruit juice is destroyed in the processing, so they have to add it right back using artificial additives. The home juicer is a better option because you drink the juice right after it is extracted from the fresh fruit, keeping most of the enzymes.

Now, there is a benefit to fresh fruit/veggie juice compared to the whole fruit/veggie. There are several nutrients that the body cannot absorb when eating fruits/veggies because those nutrients are locked into the fiber of the fruit/veggie. Juicing it breaks down these fibers to release the nutrient. Now, on the other side of the coin, you lose a lot of that beneficial fiber in the juice form. So, if you want more fiber, go with the fresh fruit. If you want more minerals, go with the juice.

Gotta be careful with the home juicers though... it's easy to overdose on it. When you "drink" your fruit and veggies you get high energy density which is high calorie and could shot up your glycemic index. My rule of thumb is: I only drink the juice of the amount of fruit/veggie I can consume raw. For example, 1 cup of carrot juice is equivalent to 5 cups of raw carrot. I'm not eating 5 cups of carrot... When you have to bite and chew your food, you can eat a cup of carrot and you're done eating. When you bypass all that chewing and drink the carrot, you can drink 5 cups worth of raw carrots before your body realizes it and gives the satisfied signal.

Like everything else... fresh fruit/veggie juice and whole fruit/veggie needs to be taken in balance. Whole here, juice there, mix it up and make life more interesting and healthier!

[Guest]

The Breville Juicer: Did you watch Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead by chance? Great documentary.

Yes, I watched it. And I'm glad he solved his health problem. BUT, I don't recommend his methods.

Health is BALANCE. What he did may have brought his out-of-balance body back out of the brink of death but juicing your way to health just swings the balance scale to a different extreme.

[johnnyjosh123]

Yes I agree with you, fruits have far more minerals than juices. when we make juices of fruits, many essential minerals dissolve and get terminated, so i guess that is why fruits are more healthy than juices.

Edited June 16, 2012 by johnnyjosh123