Six out of ten Plus readers drink fruit juices and smoothies, even if they are not in the Nutrition Center’s Wheel of Five. This is evident from the responses to the statement about this. Many people see a daily or weekly fruit juice as a healthy habit.
No matter how tasty, fresh and fruity, drinking a lot of fruit juice (and smoothies with fruit) increases the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In addition, fruit juices contain acids that can affect the teeth, according to the Nutrition Center. Fruit is of course healthy, but the fibers are mainly lost during the preparation into juice. Fruit juice is just as sugary as soda and the calories fly in. Yet 60 percent respond to the statement that they still drink fruit juice.
regular habit
For example, because a fresh fruit juice is in the routine of many readers. ‘Every day we drink two oranges for each with a squeezed lemon’, responds reader R. And Mary squeezes 2 grapefruits and 5 oranges every Sunday for three people. But Ans takes the cake when it comes to habits: ‘For 50 years 1 squeezed orange with breakfast. We are still healthy.’
Is that correct?
Also, many readers are skeptical that fruit juice is so unhealthy. Krissie writes: ‘What unbelievable nonsense! Fruits and vegetables are healthy, period! But you can make your own smoothie or juice from fresh fruit, no additives, just pure fruit.’
Other readers suspected an April 1 joke, but still others write that it has been known for a long time that fruit juice is not healthy. Marlies has a solution for the lost fibres: ‘I squeeze 2 oranges and a mandarin every day and eat the pulp that is left behind.’
less juice
But four out of ten readers have indeed stopped or cut down on fruit juice. ‘I only drink it at special times for breakfast. I also leave them on the shelves’, Janny responds. People with diabetes also often respond that they are reduced. Maartje writes: ‘The value of my blood sugar then really shoots up and I have to inject a lot more insulin which I don’t feel like! By the way, she always really liked them.’
