More than 75 percent of Americans start their day with orange juice. A great boost of vitamin C, yes, but at least one expert has some serious health warnings about OJ and your health. And as much as I heart OJ, her findings are kind of compelling ...
Writer Alissa Hamilton explores the "hidden history of orange juice" in her new book Squeezed (yep, a book all about orange juice). She looks at the humble beginnings of OJ in this nation (and the forces that "propelled orange juice to prominence, including a surplus of oranges that plagued Florida during most of the twentieth century and the army's need to provide vitamin C to troops overseas during World War II"), but perhaps most compelling is the science, most recently studies from UC Davis, that shows a link between consuming high levels of fructose (found in fruit juices) and heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
No, I don't think juice is evil, but I do think we need to remember this: When you chug down a big glass of OJ, you're drinking the equivalent of a bowl fill of oranges. Would you eat 7 oranges in a sitting? Probably not, right? Also, concentrated juices can have more sugar, which has health experts worried about obesity and the body's ability to process so much sugar. Some experts are even saying that fruit juice is no better for you than soda.
While I see the point, I love fruit juice too much to cut it out of my diet (and I don't think you should either--especially since most people have trouble eating enough fruit!), but you can make an effort to choose fresh-squeezed juices, which may have less concentrated sugars, cut your juice with a little water, or just sip less (you don't need that Big Gulp size!).
For more, here's a really interesting read from The Los Angeles Times.
Thoughts on the great juice debate?
P.S. Don't wash your pills down with this juice, say experts. And, do you use a juicer? I'm obsessed with mine!
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