As I continue studying to become a group fitness instructor, I realize that helping people obtain optimum health is contingent upon recognizing the role that food plays in contributing to or detracting from wellness. And although many people believe that consuming drinks such as fruit juices is a healthy choice, this is not necessarily the case. Here are three reasons why the fruit juice you drink can be unhealthy:
1. There Are Healthier Options.
Generally, the type of juice people drink is a processed, artificial liquid that contains things such as high fructose corn syrup, sugar, or other potentially debilitating additives that do not contribute to total health. Thus although you may see a fruit juice advertised as healthy because of its high vitamin C content, this type of marketing is oftentimes deceptive. While you may reap some health benefits from the vitamin C, an even healthier option would be to prepare a glass of all-natural orange juice from oranges. Or you could simply have several oranges and thereby attain both vitamin C and fiber from your snack while still quenching thirst.
2. They Are Oftentimes High Caloric.
Health experts have been discussing the danger of drinking high caloric juices for quite some time now. This is important and advantageous given that the individuals who market things like apple or orange juice do so under the pretense that they are healthy. However, consuming any food or drink substance that is high in calories is a potentially unhealthy practice, which makes recognizing the high caloric content of many juices important. Although you will always do best by drinking all-natural juice, individuals who choose to continue drinking fruit juices despite their disadvantages should examine food labels carefully. If the juice has more than 200 calories and is not comprised of real fruit, it should probably not be consumed.
3. They Lack Fiber.
As many health experts note when discussing the dangers of fruit juice, eating fruit in its whole form can be healthier because it still has its fiber. Yet when one consumes fruit juice, this fiber is entirely absent. Although this is not necessarily a problem for individuals who consume adequate amounts of fiber, it is a problem for the majority of people who do not. Given that most Americans do not get enough fiber in their diet, it would be prudent for people to replace processed juices with fruit in its whole form.
Conclusion
Although you may think that fruit juice is a healthy item to use, the information above indicates some of the unhealthy elements they can contain. If you are interested in maximizing wellness, consider switching from processed juice to fresh, all-natural liquid from real fruit that has no additives or preservatives. Good luck!