Is Juice Really Better for You Than Soda? (2023)

FAQs

Is Juice Really Better for You Than Soda? ›

It's great that you're trying to cut back on soda, but fruit juice isn't the best substitute. "While the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in fruit juice give it a nutritional edge over soda, it can have the same—or more—sugars and calories," says Maxine Siegel, R.D., who heads CR's food-testing lab.

While juices are more nutritious than sodas, they often contain just as much sugar. For example, a 12-ounce glass of orange juice contains nearly the same amount of sugar as a can of Coke, around 10 teaspoons of sugar. Similarly, cranberry juice contains almost as much sugar as the average root beer.

Fruit juice and soda contain similar amounts of sugar. Still, soda is likely harmful to your health, regardless of the amount you consume, whereas fruit juice may only increase your risk of disease when drunk in large amounts.

It's true that 100% fruit juice is a good source of nutrients like vitamin C and potassium. The problem is that too much juice can be an extra source of sugar and calories. Juice also doesn't contain the same fiber and phytonutrients that raw fruits have.

Studies show drinking no more than five ounces a day is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. So a small amount of fruit juice seems to be OK, but too much sugar from all sources — including juice — is linked to poor health outcomes.

Fruit juices are considered as bad as soda is because of the sugar content of these beverages. Both soda and 100% fruit juice contain 110 calories and 20-26 grams of sugar per 240 ml.

Artificially sweetened beverages like Coke Zero have been linked to other health issues, including: Increased risk of heart disease. An observational study found a link between artificially sweetened beverages and an increased risk of heart disease among women with no prior history of heart disease ( 19 ).

Drinking 100 percent fruit may juice sound like a healthy option, but it's a far cry from eating the real deal—whole, fresh fruit. In fact, new research finds that drinking just one glass of 100 percent fruit juice every day leads to gaining close to half a pound over three years.

100% fruit juice means nothing added, nothing taken away

This includes sugar, preservatives, colourings, stabilisers, flavourings and even water. Therefore, when a label states '100% orange juice', only pure orange juice made from whole oranges will be inside.

Does 100% juice mean no sugar? ›

Sure, there are positives to drinking fruit juice — starting with an impressive list of vitamins and nutrients that fill every glass. But 100% fruit juice is also loaded with enough sugar to draw unflattering comparisons to soda.

Because of these ingredients, V8 is considered an excellent source of vitamins A and C. Low-sodium V8 is also an excellent source of potassium, as potassium chloride is added. An 8-ounce glass has only 45 calories and 8 grams of carbohydrate (if you subtract the 1 gram of fiber).

Juices can never fulfill the needs of water in your body. Though a major portion of juices contains water, however, juices can never provide you with the benefits of water. Considering the points mentioned above, it is necessary to drink sufficient water throughout the day.

“If you don't get enough water, hard stools and constipation could be common side effects, along with abdominal pain and cramps.” Dull skin. Dehydration shows up on your face in the form of dry, ashy skin that seems less radiant, plump and elastic. Fatigue.

The more concentrated sugar and calories in fruit juice can lead to obesity and inappropriate weight gain. Excessive weight gain is associated with high blood pressure, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and other negative health issues later in life.

Juice Brands FAQ

The highest selling juice in America is Snapple. This brand, owned by Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., earned $6.61 billion in revenue in 2022.

Real Orange packs all the fun, quality and nutrition of oranges, sourced from the finest orchards from across the world.

Juicing is no healthier than eating whole fruits and vegetables. Juicing extracts the juice from fresh fruits or vegetables. The liquid contains most of the vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals (phytonutrients) found in the fruit.

Even that amount — even if it is a diet soda — can hurt your health. An American Diabetes Association study reported that consuming one or more sodas per day compared to none at all increased the risk of metabolic syndrome by 36% and type 2 diabetes by 67%.

Your body's overall health will improve.

"When you give up soda, your body will become more hydrated and you'll have less inflammation. By substituting out water and other healthy drinks instead of soda, you increase your metabolism, improve your cardiac health, and you may even lose some weight!"

Is Gatorade better for you than soda? ›

A 20-ounce serving of Gatorade's Thirst Quencher contains 36 grams of sugar. While that's a bit less sugar per ounce than your average soda, it's not exactly healthy. In fact, Berkeley researchers say the sugar in sports drinks may be contributing to the child obesity epidemic by increasing caloric intake.

So even though fruit juices might be labelled "no added sugar", just know they contain plenty of free sugars which could be harmful to your health if downed in greater amounts than recommended.

Giving in to your kiddos' requests to drink multiple juice boxes per day will just fill their bellies with mostly water, sugar, some vitamin C and not much else. Further, not all juices marketed to kids contain 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice, which just means you're serving your child pure added sugar.

So, for most people, natural sugars are a far better alternative to either artificial sweeteners or regular table sugar. For people living with diabetes or prediabetes, though, you still need to go easy on some natural sugars.

Drinking a reasonable amount of diet soda a day, such as a can or two, isn't likely to hurt you. The artificial sweeteners and other chemicals currently used in diet soda are safe for most people, and there's no credible evidence that these ingredients cause cancer.

100% juice is fruit juice made from 100% “liquid fruit", i.e. there are no added colourings, preservatives or sugar. However, fruit juice can be made in two different ways. There is "not-from-concentrate” juice, which is bottled after harvesting and stored for later bottling.

Blended fruit isn't nutritionally equivalent to the same fruit left whole, according to some experts. Although, of course, some properties remain present, including soluble fiber, blending can break down insoluble fiber.

Orange juice and whole oranges are nutritionally similar, but there are some important differences. Most notably, compared to a whole orange, a serving of orange juice has significantly less fiber and about twice the calories and carbs — which are mostly fruit sugar.

Try the refreshing Minute Maid® Orange Juice at McDonald's with 100% Orange Juice. It contains pure Orange Juice and the goodness of Vitamin C. Pair it with your favorite McDonald's Breakfast Menu item to give a fresh start to your day. There are 150 calories in a small Minute Maid® Orange Juice at McDonald's.

Is Minute Maid 100 orange juice healthy? ›

It helps build healthy bones and also provides a good source of Vitamin C, Folate, Potassium and Thiamin. 100% orange juice. Pasteurized. Excellent source of calcium and vitamin D.

Oranges are high in vitamin C and they also keep your immune system healthy. An intense craving for orange juice or any other citrus fruits could mean your body may be fighting off an infection. Craving citrus can also mean digestive dysfunction.

A comprehensive data analysis suggests that 100% fruit juice does not have a significant effect on fasting blood glucose, fasting blood insulin, or insulin resistance, according to a new study.

Most people aged over 14 should consume no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of salt per day. However, the average salt intake in the United States is about 3,440 mg per day. With 640 mg of salt in every 8 oz of V8, it is best to drink it in moderation.

Bananas are very nutritious. They contain fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and several other beneficial plant compounds. These nutrients may have a number of health benefits, such as for digestive and heart health.

V8 has fewer calories, less sodium, and less sugar – those are pretty solid advantages. However, tomato juice is certainly holding its own, with a higher amount of potassium, fiber, protein, Vitamin C, and iron, to name a few.

Milk is more hydrating than water

For example, milk was found to be even more hydrating than plain water because it contains the sugar lactose, some protein and some fat, all of which help to slow the emptying of fluid from the stomach and keep hydration happening over a longer period.

Juice, smoothies, iced coffee, ice tea, protein shakes, milk, and other drinks can be excellent alternatives to water. You should avoid relying too much on drinks with a high sugar content, such as soda, certain fruit juces, energy drinks and chocolate milk.

Does juice actually hydrate you? ›

While water is typically the go-to for hydration, 100% fruit juice can also be a great way to get your liquids and add a little variety to your beverage game! Juices like 100% orange juice are particularly effective in rehydrating and quenching thirst, as well as restoring electrolytes.

When you are drinking enough fluids your body is in balance and your urine will be a pale straw yellow colour. When you have not drank enough fluids your kidneys try to save as much water as they can and cause your urine to be darker in colour (more concentrated).

As a general rule of thumb, a person can survive without water for about 3 days. However, some factors, such as how much water an individual body needs, and how it uses water, can affect this. Factors that may change how much water a person needs include: age.

Studies show drinking no more than five ounces a day is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. So a small amount of fruit juice seems to be OK, but too much sugar from all sources — including juice — is linked to poor health outcomes.

If you drink high quantities of fruit juice, you could be contributing to excess energy intake. This can increase your risk of obesity and other conditions like type 2 diabetes. If you're drinking it regularly, it can lead to weight gain by adding unnecessary energy to your day.

However, you may be surprised that drinking juice daily can lead to adverse health outcomes. "Consuming juice every day may spike blood sugar levels, increase total calories consumed in the day, contribute to weight gain and increase risk of cavities," cautions Garcia.

They say juicing can reduce your risk of cancer, boost your immune system, remove toxins from your body, aid digestion and help you lose weight. However, there's no scientific evidence that extracted juices are healthier than the juice you get by eating the fruit or vegetable itself.

More often than not, companies shovel in the sugar just like they do with soda. Are you ready for your jaw to drop? Minute Maid lemonade contains even more sugar than Coke: 40 grams! And they don't use raw cane sugar either.

Drawbacks. A juicing machine leaves nutrient-rich and fiber-rich skin and pulp behind. Without the fruit fiber, your body absorbs the fructose sugar more easily, which can upset blood sugar levels. Juice made with fruit has a high calorie count.

Does juicing shrink your stomach? ›

Despite what you might have heard, juice cleanses don't actually shrink your stomach. But juicing eliminates the habit of comfort eating, and makes you feel much more satisfied, even though you're eating less.

It alters the pH balance of your stomach.

“When using juice to replace meals, you alter the pH of the stomach and intestine, as well as alter the bile patterns,” says holistic nutritionist Christina Major. “This can lead to undigested whole foods, ulcers, IBS, diverticulitis, leaky gut, and gallstones.

A 150ml glass of unsweetened fruit juice, vegetable juice or smoothie can count as a maximum of 1 portion of your recommended 5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables. Limit the amount of fruit juice, vegetable juice or smoothie you have to no more than a combined total of 150ml a day (1 small glass).

Although juice is indeed high in sugar, the scientists found that certain nutrients in orange juice might be easier for the body to absorb than when a person consumes them from unprocessed fruit. Many health advocates advise people to eat an orange and drink water rather than opt for a serving of sugary juice.

The more concentrated sugar and calories in fruit juice can lead to obesity and inappropriate weight gain. Excessive weight gain is associated with high blood pressure, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and other negative health issues later in life.