Is that juice really healthy?
Juice labels are intended to inform and protect the consumer, but that only works if you speak label-ese. If you're squeezing juice into your diet, keep an eye out for these key words before you buy.
>>100 percent juice
"Start by looking for '100 percent juice' on the label—this means that everything in the bottle came directly from fruits or vegetables," said Kim Larson, a sports nutritionist and a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "If the label says '100 percent juice beverage' or '100 percent juice drink,' it could mean the product contains little or no juice, and almost guarantees there is added sugar."
>>Light or less sugar
Juice products with labels that boast "less sugar" or "light" should also raise an eyebrow. "There is no such thing as a sugar-free juice—all juices contain sugar in the form of naturally occurring fructose," Larson said. "'Light' or 'reduced sugar' juice products fool the consumer into thinking they are consuming a healthier option, but in reality these products contain more water to cut the calories and less nutrition," Larson said.
While rich in vitamins and antioxidants, juices are also calorie-dense and a more a concentrated source of sugar than whole fruits and vegetables. "Rather than looking for 'light' or 'lower-calorie' juices, buy 100 percent juice and have it in a smaller size—4 to 6 ounces per day," said Heather Mangieri, a sports nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
>>Natural or organic
Juice labels also often include descriptors such as natural or organic, and though they sound similar, they're not the same thing. " 'Natural' is a non-regulated term that may be used as a marketing ploy to mislead consumers," Mangieri said. "Anything can be natural—sugar is natural. Organic products, which are regulated, must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients [that] were grown with no pesticides or herbicides."
>>Cold-pressed
While the cold-pressed juice industry continues to expand onto grocery store and coffeehouse shelves, scientific studies supporting the benefits of this process—which is similar to pasteurization without the heat—have yet to surface in any conclusive way. "Since no high heat is used in cold-pressed juices, these juices retain more nutrients," Larson said. "There is also more fiber in these juices because there is more pulp. They do have a healthier appeal to consumers, but we don't have any studies to confirm there is more nutrient retention with this method of processing."
Mangieri stressed the importance of food safety for cold-pressed juice because they are not pasteurized and therefore have a much shorter shelf-life by nature. "Remember that, due to how they are prepared, cold-pressed juices can be slightly more associated with foodborne illnesses," she said. "Look at the expiration date, use them by that date and then throw them away."Read more at:www.marieaustralia.com/short-formal-dresses | www.marieaustralia.com/long-formal-dresses
برچسب ها : ,