Did you know that the average American consumes about eight gallons of fruit juice every year? Although fruit juice is a good way to get in servings of fruit and some extra vitamins and minerals, it turns out that it’s not as healthy of a beverage as many believe. In fact, there are some negative aspects of drinking fruit juice that you should consider before deciding to make it a regular beverage.
Benefits
One glass of fruit juice contains about one serving of fruit. It can even include a serving of vegetables if it happens to be a fruit and vegetable blend. Fruit juice also has minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin C. In particular, orange juice and grapefruit juice are great sources of vitamin C.
Negatives
Fruit juice is a sugary drink, so it’s not a great choice if you are watching your calorie intake. Drinking fruit juice throughout the day is an easy way to consume excess calories without really realizing it. It also doesn’t have the benefit of fiber like fresh fruit does.
Considerations
Fruit juice can be healthy for children as long as they are drinking the correct amount. Babies between six and 12 months of age should only have four to six ounces of fruit juice per day, and children between one and six years old shouldn’t go over six ounces daily. Children who are seven years and older can have up to 12 ounces per day.
When looking for juice, be sure to choose a type that is 100 percent juice with no extra additives or sugar.
However, if you are looking for a healthy beverage to start your day, consider just drinking some water and eating a piece of fresh fruit. You’ll save on calories and stock up on fiber.
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