With the increasing focus on consuming nutritious and natural beverages, one category that has gained immense popularity is juices. Juices can be refreshing and delicious and can offer essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Before pouring yourself a glass, let’s take a deep dive into the nutrition profile of juices.
Juices extracted from fruits and vegetables can offer an abundant amount of nutrients. They provide a concentrated amount of essential nutrients in an easily digestible form, boosting immunity and promoting digestion and cardiovascular health. For example, orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, known for its immunity-boosting properties. Green juices made from kale, Swiss chard, and wheatgrass offer a blend of vitamins and minerals from vitamins A, C, and K to iron.
Juices come in an array of flavors and combinations, catering to diverse tastes and health goals. Whether it’s a refreshing watermelon-mint fusion for a hot summer day or a vitamin-rich blend of spinach, kale, and pineapple, there are a variety of juicing combinations available.
While juices offer numerous health benefits, experts advise moderation. Juices can be high in natural sugars and calories, especially if not balanced with vegetables and when consumed in excess. One serving of 100% juice is one-half cup (four ounces). Whole fruits and vegetables provide fiber, which is often lost during the juicing process, so it’s essential to strike a balance between juicing and consuming whole produce.
Even with the rise of customizable juices, be mindful to consume juices in moderation. Juices can offer a variety of vitamins and minerals, but due to the number of sugars and calories in them, it's beneficial to reach for the whole produce when available.