Sweet cold fruit juice may be a valuable component of many Americans’ diets, whether it makes you feel better when you are sick or brings back memories of thirstily slurping from a juice box with a straw as a youngster. Even though we adore it, our consumption has been declining gradually over time, owing to the fact that more people are learning that it isn’t as healthy as we assumed. In 2018, the typical individual in the United States consumed about 6 gallons of juice per year, whereas it was closer to 8 in 2016. So you may already be aware that juice isn’t always the greatest option for a healthy lifestyle. Here are some additional facts to consider when determining how much juice you should consume.
1 — Products That Are Labeled as 100% Juice Might Still Contain Other Ingredients
Do you feel like you’re in the know when it comes to what’s inside your juice beverage of choice? While the 100 percent juice label implies there is only juice, it might include more than just the fruit listed on the label. It’s true that a product labeled and marketed as 100% juice may contain flavorings, salt, or preservatives.
2 — Orange Juice May Be Stored For Up to a Year & Chemically ‘Reflavored’
Orange juice is heated in order to deprive it of oxygen and kept for months, resulting in a flavorless liquid. Manufacturers ‘reflavor’ the juice with chemical packs before sale, which means adding substances like orange essence or orange essential oil to get the proper taste. Another O.J. surprise: Brazil provides the largest proportion of supply in the United States, not Florida.
3 — ‘Healthy’ Juice Bars Are Not Always Good for You
Freshly squeezed juice from the farmers’ market or a juice bar may seem like a more healthful option to store-bought juices, but there are several drawbacks. Non-pasteurized fruit juices can contain dangerous germs that harm people, according to FDA. While clear warnings are printed on grocery store packaged fresh juices, non-pasteurized glass of drinks aren’t required to reveal this potential hazard to customers. Buyers should be cautious.
4 — Some Fruit Juices Contain Lead
In 2019, Consumer Reports tested 45 juices for arsenic and lead, and discovered “very concerning” amounts of heavy metals in almost half of them. Previously conducted food research has shown that contaminants such as cadmium, mercury,  lead, and inorganic arsenic are already present in our environment; however, drinkable juice is particularly worrying since children consume so much of it. “Children are extremely susceptible to the damaging effects of heavy metals,” according to Consumer Reports, which notes that these are hazardous and might result in a variety of health issues.
5 — Fruit Juice Has The Same Amount Of Sugar As Cola
It’s true that fruit juice and soda have about 30 grams of sugar in each eight-ounce glass. While fruit juice has additional nutrients, just because the sugar is natural doesn’t imply it’s any better than refined sugar in cola.