Is Packaged Fruit Juice Healthy?

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With the turn of the century city living has undergone major changes with lifestyle being the worst hit. At the same time consciousness is increasing in terms of living a healthy life and opting for healthier alternatives. In such circumstances one question that comes to the fore is – is packaged fruit juice healthy?

Fruits, we all know, are a storehouse of valuable nutrition required by the body. They not only contain minerals and vitamins but also provide the much needed fiber content to maintain a healthy digestive system and in turn a healthy body.

This very thought prompts many of us to make a choice in favor of fruits over any other prepared snack. As a drink packaged fruit juices are stocked at homes and office canteens to offer a ‘healthy’ choice. But is packaged fruit juice good for health in the real sense.

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There was a time when colas and fizzy drinks were much in demand but gradually health consciousness seeped in and people starting steering away from them and moved towards fruit juices. But once again the choice of opting for packaged fruit juices proved to be a not so healthy one.

Unknowingly many of us have been fooled into thinking that fruit juices available in cartons are healthy. Read through and ask yourself is packaged fruit juice healthy?

Read the label: Packaged fruit juices have juicy luscious fruits displayed on the carton pack. The mere sight of such fruits prompts us to pick on, at times more than one. Try to be a bit more aware and read the text. No need to go too far – just read the small text on the front which says fruit beverage instead of fruit juice. This should be enough to tell you that it is not ‘juice’ you are buying.

Read the ingredients: What do you expect fruit juice to contain. Juice from a fruit should ideally be only ingredient but sadly enough it is not so. There is water and fruit concentrate along with all the flavor enhancers, acidity regulators and fortified with minerals and vitamins. There are also those which contain added sugar, preservatives and corn syrup.

Compare tastes: Your taste buds cannot fool you. Try out a simple test on your own. Take a pack of fruit juice and a glass of freshly pressed juice. You are bound to realize the difference in taste. Which one would you prefer? You will once again ask yourself – is packaged fruit juice healthy?

Compare shelf lives: How long do you think a fresh pressed juice will last? Not more than a couple of hours at the most. In fact it is said that fresh juice should be consumed within a couple of minutes to get the maximum benefits. On the other hand packaged juices have a life of nine months to one year. Could it be possible that these packaged juices actually contain only fresh pressed juice and nothing else? Once again – is packaged fruit juice good for health?

Look for the pulp: The real benefit of a fruit and its juice can be derived from its pulp. None of the packaged fruit juices contain the much needed pulp. The packaging process is such in which all the juice is strained robbing it off its benefits. What remains is only sugar which means more calories.

The points touched upon here are very basic and can be understood by any common man. You need not be an expert or a nutritionist to realize the differences between packaged fruit juices and fresh pressed ones. The choice lies in your hands as to what you want to serve yourself and your family.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.