Is there any Juice in your Juice?

So we know pop or soda is full of caffeine, artificial flavours, colours and sugar. So you reach for the healthier option – juice. Right?

Sadly, not always.

Most juices are made with inferior produce selections that may be genetically modified, not organic, or not picked and processed at their prime ripeness.

We investigated more deeply into the ingredients of Ocean Spray and Minute Maid juices. They all had similar ingredients, and specifically concerning were the ‘reconstituted’ fruit juices.

Photo courtesy: http://www.oceanspray.ca/Products/Juices/By-Flavour/Citrus/100-Juice-Blend-Citrus-Mango-Pineapple.aspx

What IS reconstituted fruit juice?

Reconstituted fruit juice is produced from a fruit juice concentrate. The fruit is juiced and then as much water is removed as possible, leaving behind a highly concentrated form of juice. These ‘concentrates’ are then frozen or dried, which makes it easier for storage, transportation and packaging.¹

Unfortunately, during this processing, most of the enzymes, vitamins and minerals that you normally find in fruit are destroyed through the heating, extracting, storage and reconstitution process. Added ingredients to the finished process may include preservatives, natural and artificial flavours, colours and added sugar, along with water that we hope is properly purified.

Take a look at the label for the Ocean Spray 100% Juice Blend Citrus Mango Pineapple.

Image courtesy: http://www.oceanspray.ca/Products/Juices/By-Flavour/Citrus/100-Juice-Blend-Citrus-Mango-Pineapple.aspx

But what is fumaric acid?

“Fumaric acid is a common food additive included in many processed foods to keep them stable and to add tartness. The substance has a more sour flavor than citric acid, another common food additive.”²

Another source makes Fumaric acid seem a little bit more daunting…

“Fumaric acid is a colorless crystalline solid. The primary hazard is the threat to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit spread to the environment. Combustible, though may be difficult to ignite. Used to make paints and plastics, in food processing and preservation, and for other uses.”³

We’re going to conclude that we’d rather not be regularly exposed to this additive.

How much SUGAR???

When we checked out Minute Maid’s Pink Grapefruit Cocktail, it was really just a cocktail of processed concentrated juice, sugar, glucose, fructose and added colour. For one bottle of juice, 450mL, there is 48 grams of sugar! 48 grams! That is equal to 12 sugar cubes. That is a LOT of sugar to consume in a juice that does not provide any nutritional content.

To put this into perspective, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre advises that women should consume no more than 25 grams of sugar per day, and men should consume no more than 37 grams of sugar per day.⁴

The problem with consuming too much sugar is not only because it causes weight gain and inflammation in the body, along with a host of other issues, but, as discovered by Otto Warburg in 1931, sugar actually fuels cancer cells.⁵

http://www.minutemaid.ca/en/products/juice_drinks/pink_grapefruit_cocktail_pb.html

So what is the Solution??

You can make your own juice quite simply, by purchasing a juicer and some organic produce. It is important to make the base of your juice with green vegetables to avoid a spike in blood sugar from the natural sweetness of fruit.

Here is our favourite recipe! Just put the items through your juicer, and it will help to mix up the order of adding a bit of one vegetable, then some of another, so your juicer doesn’t clog. (The cucumber and zucchini are soft, and the celery helps to push them through, etc). Choose organic produce whenever possible!

4 stalks celery
1 cucumber
2 small zucchini
15 stalks of red dandelion (this gives the recipe a smooth, rich flavour)
3 green apples (cored)
2 lemons (peeled)

Enjoy!

With Sources From:

1 – http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/reconstituted_fruit_juice

2 – http://www.livestrong.com/article/109037-fumaric-acid-foods/

3 – https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/fumaric_acid#section=Top

4 – https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/may-2015/FOH-cancer-love-sugar.html

5 – http://www.mercola.com/article/sugar/sugar_cancer.htm

Jo-Anne Richardson, Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Energy Medicine Practitioner

Jo-Anne works with Fournier Homeopathic & Integrative Health to provide online education for clients and patients. Her interest in healthy, joyful living is demonstrated in her writing, coaching and teaching. Her goal is to improve the health of her community by empowering you with knowledge, support and new ideas.

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