What is the difference between juice and a fruit “drink”?



In the nutrition classes I teach I find many people are very confused as to what a juice is and what is a fruit drink?  Many people buy a fruit drink and think they are getting 100% juice.  Something that is 100% juice has many nutritional benefits such as vitamins like vitamin A, C, and folate, minerals and antioxidants.  Fruit drinks may have none of these or the manufacturer might fool you and add something like vitamin C and you might think you are buying something healthy when it is mostly sugar water. 

Look at the items below and see if you can tell if it is a drink or a real juice?

Sunny D
Hi-C
Capri Sun
Juicy Juice
Pink Lemonade
Simply Orange
Hawaiian Punch
Sunland Fruit Drink
Tang

So how do you think you did?  How many times are you  in a grocery store and you see parents who  have loaded their cart with a case of Capri Sun?  Or instead of orange juice there is a gallon of Sunny D?  Some hints at knowing if it is a juice or drink:

Drink  - if it says “drink” anywhere on the label, it is not real juice.  Thus, Sunland Fruit Drink is not real juice.  Avoid Juice Drinks that have a small amount of juice but are mostly sugar water.  Avoid “juice cocktails” which may contain only small amounts of juice. 

Juice – but if it says “juice” it may not be 100% juice.  Manufacturers note the % juice on the label so you need to read the ingredients.

Drinks – Avoid These
Juice – choose these
Sunny D
Simply Orange – 100% juice
Hi-C
Tropicana Orange Juice
Sunland Fruit Drink
Vegetable juice
Hawaiian Punch
Cranberry, Blueberry,Acai Berry – choose low or no sugar juices
Tang
Naked Juice
Pink Lemonade
Capri Sun 100% juice
Capri Sun Juice Drink


How much juice should you drink?  
Kids – the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
Under 6 – no more than 4-6 ounces of juice a day
Ages 7-18-  AAP recommends 4-12 ounces a day

If your child wants more juice than this, add some sparkling water to 100% juice and dilute it. 

Want more information on great juices for your health?  WebMD has a great slide show on juices vs. drinks – well worth looking at.  See:  Juice Wars Slideshow: Best and Worst Vegetable and Fruit Juices
So the next time you are thirsty and at a convenience store or the grocery store, read the label.  Leave the Sunny D and Hi-C on the shelf and buy some 100% juice.  
Image Source:  http://thesnapper.com/2013/11/06/revitalize-yourself-with-fresh-juice/

Comments

  1. lizaApril 26, 2017 at 9:00 AM

    nice post

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alizo WriteroJuly 29, 2017 at 5:19 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KcsJanuary 21, 2018 at 5:04 PM

    Great article! I hate all these phony juice drinks that are nothing but artificial flavors and sugar. I never let my kids drink that crap.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathryn Kotula, NutritionistJanuary 22, 2018 at 12:07 PM

      You are so right. So many people buy these phony juice drinks thinking they are healthy when they are not. Good you never let your kids drink the juice drinks. Thank you for your comment.

      Delete
  4. juice oxidationFebruary 15, 2018 at 3:03 PM

    I was wondering if you had any juicing tips about preventing juice from oxidizing? Great blog by the way!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathryn Kotula, NutritionistFebruary 18, 2018 at 6:46 PM

      Good question. Some tips on preventing juice from oxidizing – Do the juicing in morning before you leave for work if you are bringing it with you. Use fruits and vegetables that are chilled as this will help keep the juice cooler. Keeping it cool helps prevent oxidation. Throw in some lemon slices (with the peel) into the juicer. Lemon juice helps prevent oxidation and is an all natural preservative. Fill the container to the top to minimize air at the top.

      Delete

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