Fruit juices are sugar bombs that shouldn’t be among the 5 fruits and vegetables a day recommended by nutrition programs. This charge against fruit juices is launched by Dr Susan Jebb, British nutritionist at the University of Oxford. The doctor warns of what she sees as nutritional traps. People tend to believe that a purchased fruit juice contains as many vitamins and is as healthy as raw fruit. Nay!
Some brands contain as many sugars as a Coke, says the nutritionist. A small glass of industrial orange juice contains on average 2 and a half teaspoons of sugar when a large glass is worth five. Next to it, an orange contains just 2 tablespoons of sugar and contains much more fiber (3 g) than fruit juices will ever have (they also contain no fiber). The calculation is quickly done: “Eating a fruit, richer in fiber, better soothes the feeling of hunger”, says the specialist.
Homemade fruit juice not healthy
How about homemade? Squeezed fruit juice does not fare any better. If the juice contains a lot of natural sugars, it is not better for you. People are encouraged to drink more because they think they are healthier. The vicious circle is engaged and the risk factor for overweight is real, according to the nutritionist.
“Fruit juice is not the same as raw fruit. It contains as much sugar as many conventional sweet drinks, says Dr Jebb to the Daily Mail. It is also absorbed very quickly so that the stomach has hard to tell the difference between Coke and fruit juice. “
As you can see, if you have to make a single dietary resolution at the start of the year, it is to shun fruit juices. Those who really care about their squeezed oranges are advised to dilute the juice obtained with a little water.
