Getting the Most Out of Juice
As a nutritionist, I will like to share the following tips to help you navigate the juice aisle and help you select 100 percent juices for your family:
Look for 100 percent: Make sure the label specifically says “100% juice” to avoid selecting drinks that may contain added sugar and fewer nutrients than 100 percent orange juice. One hundred percent orange juice is made only from the juice of oranges and contains no added sugars. Other orange drinks may contain added sugar with very little real fruit juice and often do not contain the wide range and amount of nutrients found in 100 percent orange juice.
Make sure additions don’t distract from the overall nutritional value: Fortifying a beverage with vitamin C allows manufacturers to state it “provides 100% of the Daily Value for vitamin C.” However, this claim often deflects attention from the fact that the beverage may contain less than 10 percent real juice, has added sugars and lacks other essential nutrients.
Limit “drinks,” “-ades,” “punches,” “cocktails” and other cleverly-worded “beverages”: These drinks may have added sugars and different nutrient profiles than 100 percent juices and will not help fulfill fruit intake recommendations.
Adaily glass of 100 percent orange juice can be an all-natural power pack of essential vitamins and minerals for your family, not to mention an easy way to get a nutritional jumpstart on the day. One serving of 100 percent orange juice is more nutrient dense than many commonly consumed 100 percent fruit juices.1
Vitamin C: An 8-ounce serving of 100 percent orange juice naturally provides at least 100% of the Daily Value for vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and antioxidants may help neutralize free radicals. Free radicals may contribute to cell and tissue damage that could lead to the development of diseases.
Folate: One hundred percent orange juice is one of the most popular and one of the few 100 percent fruit juices considered to be a good source of natural folate, which is essential for growth and development.
- 1/2 cup Florida Orange Juice
- 1/4 cup Strawberry Puree
- 1/4 cup Pineapple Juice
- 1/4 cup Mango Juice
- In a blender combine all ingredients and mix for 5 seconds. Pour contents into a glass and serve chilled.
One 8-ounce glass of 100 percent orange juice counts as almost 25 percent of your USDA-recommended daily fruit and vegetable servings, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Live life. Enjoy it and Eat well.
