According to Unijus, (the national interprofessional union of fruit juices) 90% of French people buy fruit juices. And in 2020, the average consumption in the country reached 18 liters. This drink is often included in breakfast, as it is considered a healthy drink. In addition, the messages hammered home for many years encouraging the consumption of 5 fruits and vegetables a day reinforce the idea that one can only do good for one’s body, by recharging it with vitamins.
Number of households adopt orange juice when you wake up, persuaded to stock up on vitamin C. However, it could be that the idea is not as judicious as one thinks. According to an American study, published in May 2019 in the journal Jama Network Open, drinking more than one glass of fruit juice a day is harmful. And two more drinks would lead, according to the researchers, to an 11% increase in mortality.
Fruit juice: water, sugar and only a few vitamins…
So should we give up this drink? “Industrial fruit juices contain a lot of sugars. So it is better to avoid them, whether for breakfast or to quench your thirst during the day. As for the homemade juices, it’s water, sugar and some vitamins and minerals”, recalls Corinne Fernandez, dietitian nutritionist in Paris.
For bottles purchased in supermarkets, there are often confusions in the labels.
- The mention indicating “pure juice” means that it is a pressed fruit juice.
- When there is written “concentrate”, is that there was freezing and mixing with water. As a result, there are not as many vitamins as in a pressed fruit.
- It also exists nectars. These contain water, sugar, thickening type additives, but ultimately very little fruit.
The most acceptable from a nutritional point of view is therefore the pure juice of the fresh section because it is the one where the vitamins remain. But they are often the most expensive on the market. Note that these products remain industrial juices, most of the time processed and rich in preservatives.
Whole fruit versus fruit juice
“It is better to consume a whole fresh fruit rather than juice. For several reasons. first because that it contains vitamins, minerals, fiber and fructose. While juice contains mostly water and sugar, and fewer vitamins. In terms of nutritional intake, it is not worth a fruit. Other interest: fiber intakeinteresting because they help to cut hunger, and are beneficial for intestinal transit”, adds the specialist. So, a glass of fresh fruit juice from time to time, why not. But drinking it systematically and regularly is a habit to banish.
Thanks to Corinne Fernandez, dietitian nutritionist in Paris.
Read also:
- Nutrition: 3 vegetables and 2 fruits a day is even better
- The top fruits with the lowest calories
- Good reasons to eat blueberries all summer long
