Posted on 07/21/2025 6:19:55 AM PDT by Red Badger
It’s no secret that kids (and some of us adults) love fruit juice. Many of us grew up drinking fruit juice, and parents often think 100% fruit juice is healthy. But is it really?
UC Davis Health pediatricians Lena Rothstein and Dean Blumberg tackled this juicy topic in their podcast Kids Considered:
We often like the taste of fruit juice because it’s a sweet drink. But it’s no secret that sweet often means more sugar, even if it’s natural sugar.
Think about whole fruits that are sweeter – they have more natural sugars that make them taste sweet. Same goes for those 100% fruit juices, which may not have any added sugars. Too much sugar of any kind isn’t healthy.
Fruit juices often have added flavors, food coloring or other additives.
In addition, news came out in January that many fruit juices can contain lead or other metals, according to Consumer Reports.
The study looked at 24 national and private label brands and tested 45 juices of different flavors. Many of them had elevated levels of lead, according to the report. These metals can lead to neurodevelopmental problems in children.
Does 100% fruit juice still have sugar?
Now back to the sugar concerns: Fruit juices are a concentrated source of sugar for children.
In one popular apple juice brand, which we have chosen not to name, one 4 oz. box contained 14 grams of sugar. That equals about 3 teaspoons of sugar.
In a 6 oz. box of a popular orange juice, it was found to have 18 grams of sugar, or a little more than 4 teaspoons.
If you compare that to a can of soda, in terms of volume, it’s about the same – and those are fruit juices with no added sugar.
Is eating whole fruit that much better than drinking fruit juice?
Yes! Whole fruits provide fiber by way of the skin and pulp. Fiber has been shown to decrease the risk of colon cancer, lower cholesterol and help control blood pressure. It’s also associated with living longer, studies suggest.
In addition, whole fruits contain some vitamins that don’t make it into the juice. Some edible fibers in the skin and pulp are removed during the juicing process.
Whole fruit also takes longer to eat causing a slower calorie intake, which can decrease the risk of obesity. Finally, fruit juice has more concentrated sugar and calories as compared to whole fruit.
What other negative impacts can fruit juice have?
Drinking fruit juice can replace consuming other beneficial liquids, like breast milk for babies or water for the rest of us.
The more concentrated sugar and calories in fruit juice can lead to obesity and inappropriate weight gain. Excessive weight gain is associated with high blood pressure, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and other negative health issues later in life.
Is it safer to dilute fruit juice with water?
Not necessarily. Even diluted juice can increase the risk of cavities and decrease the chance of drinking other beneficial liquids.
My child loves fruit juice, so is there a safe amount to give them?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children under 1 year of age drink no fruit juice. It is ok for children 1 to 3 years of age to drink up to 4 oz. per day, but parents should focus on offering whole fruit or water instead.
Children ages 4 to 6 can have 4 to 6 oz. of fruit juice per day. Children older than 6 should not drink more than 8 oz. per day, which is basically a small glass.
Children who are overweight or obese should eliminate juice from their diet.
A few juicy words of advice for parents from the pediatricians:
* Don’t put your child to bed with juice or milk. It leaves teeth covered with sugar and can feed the bacteria that causes cavities and tooth decay.
* Avoid giving your children fruit juice in sippy cups. Sippy cups make it easier to drink juice throughout the day, leading kids to decrease healthier food intake.
* Negative impacts of fruit juice will have negative impacts on obese children. Ultimately, children should avoid drinking any sugary drinks, including sports drinks and other sweet drinks. Just by cutting out those liquids, you will likely see dramatic effects on a child’s weight.
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Related stories on fruit juice and health:
LINKS AT SITE........................
Kids Considered: Fruit Juice – Friend or Foe?
American Academy of Pediatrics News: Added sugar in kids’ diets: How much is too much?
CNN: It’s not just soda: Drinking too much fruit juice (or any sugary drink) linked to premature death risk
Bloomberg: Now Fruit Juice is Linked to a Higher Cancer Risk
If fresh-squeezed orange juice is bad, I don’t want to be good.
I would like to think we are just carnivores but we are not. We are Omnivores that lean towards being healthier on a majority of meat consumption.
Just try to survive without Vitamin C intake tat can only be found in fruits and vegetables. You can actually die from scurvy within a couple months.
“Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a very important nutrient for your body. It’s responsible for the development, growth and healing of your skin, bones and connective tissue. In addition, you need vitamin C for your blood vessels to function properly. Vitamin C helps maintain your teeth and gums. It helps your body absorb iron, which it needs to make red blood cells. Vitamin C also helps heal burns and other wounds.”
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24318-scurvy
Same with many other vitamins and minerals that you can only get from Vegetable matter.
ACTUAL fruit juice? No, that’s good for kids. The soda-without-bubbles we sell AS fruit juice in America? Yes, that stuff’s crap.
“Just try to survive without Vitamin C intake tat can only be found in fruits and vegetables. You can actually die from scurvy within a couple months”
So you went first with “carbs are essential” (which is FALSE, there are essential fatty acids and essential amino-acids but no essential carb, none). And now you pivot to no-greens=scurvy, which is equally bogus. What’s next?
Or maybe you would revise your current beliefs, just saying?
“Same with many other vitamins and minerals that you can only get from Vegetable matter.”
I make it less sweet by adding gin or vodka.
Calcium
Foods that have it: Milk, fortified nondairy alternatives like soy milk, yogurt, hard cheese, fortified cereals, unfortified almond milk, kale
How much you need:
Adults aged 19-50: 1,000 milligrams per day
Women aged 51 and older: 1,200 milligrams per day
Men aged 51-70: 1,000 milligrams per day
Men aged 71 and older: 1,200 milligrams per day
What it does: Needed for bone growth and strength, blood clotting, muscle contraction, and more
Don’t get more than this a day: 2,500 milligrams per day for adults aged 50 and younger and 2,000 milligrams per day for those aged 51 and older
Choline
Foods that have it: Milk, liver, eggs, peanuts
How much you need:
Men: 550 milligrams per day
Women: 425 milligrams per day
During pregnancy: 450 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding: 550 milligrams per day
What it does: Helps make cells
Don’t get more than this much: 3,500 milligrams per day
Chromium
Foods that have it: Broccoli, potatoes, meats, poultry, fish, some cereals
How much you need:
Men aged 19-50: 35 micrograms per day
Women aged 19-50: 25 micrograms per day, unless pregnant or breastfeeding
During pregnancy: 30 micrograms per day
While breastfeeding: 45 micrograms per day
Men aged 51 and older: 30 micrograms per day
Women aged 51 and older: 20 micrograms per day
What it does: Helps control blood sugar levels
Don’t get more than this much: No upper limit known for adults
Copper
Foods that have it: Seafood, nuts, seeds, wheat bran cereals, whole grains
How much you need:
Adults: 900 micrograms per day
During pregnancy: 1,000 micrograms per day
While breastfeeding: 1,300 micrograms per day
What it does: Helps your body process iron
Don’t get more than this much: 8,000 micrograms per day for adults
Fiber
Foods that have it: Plant foods, including oatmeal, lentils, peas, beans, fruits, and vegetables
How much you need:
Men aged 19-50: 38 grams per day
Women aged 19-50: 25 grams per day
During pregnancy: 25-30 grams per day
Men aged 51 and older: 30 grams per day
Women aged 51 and older: 21 grams per day
What it does: Helps with digestion, lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol, helps you feel full, and helps maintain blood sugar levels
Don’t get more than this much: No upper limit from foods for adults
Fluoride
Foods that have it: Fluoridated water, some sea fish
How much you need:
Men: 4 milligrams per day
Women: 3 milligrams per day, including while pregnant or breastfeeding
What it does: Prevents cavities in teeth, helps with bone growth
Don’t get more than this much: 10 milligrams per day for adults
Folic acid (folate)
Foods that have it: Dark, leafy vegetables, enriched and whole-grain breads, fortified cereals
How much you need:
Adults: 400 micrograms per day
During pregnancy: 600 micrograms per day
While breastfeeding: 500 micrograms per day
What it does: Helps prevent birth defects, important for heart health and for cell development
Don’t get more than this much: 1,000 micrograms per day for adults
Iodine
Foods that have it: Seaweed, seafood, dairy products, processed foods, iodized salt
How much you need:
Adults: 150 micrograms per day
During pregnancy: 220 micrograms per day
While breastfeeding: 290 micrograms per day
What it does: Helps make thyroid hormones
Don’t get more than this much: 1,100 micrograms per day for adults
Iron
Foods that have it: Fortified cereals, beans, lentils, beef, turkey (dark meat), soybeans, spinach
How much you need:
Men aged 19 and older: 8 milligrams per day
Women aged 19-50: 18 milligrams per day
During pregnancy: 27 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding: 10 milligrams per day
Women aged 51 and older: 8 milligrams per day
What it does: Needed for red blood cells and many enzymes
Don’t get more than this much: 45 milligrams per day for adults
Magnesium
Foods that have it: Green leafy vegetables, nuts, dairy, soybeans, potatoes, whole wheat, quinoa
How much you need:
Men aged 19-30: 400 milligrams per day
Men aged 31 and older: 420 milligrams per day
Women aged 19-30: 310 milligrams per day, unless pregnant or breastfeeding
Women aged 31 and older: 320 milligrams per day, unless pregnant or breastfeeding
During pregnancy: 350-360 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding: 310-320 milligrams per day
What it does: Helps with heart rhythm, muscle and nerve function, bone strength
Don’t get more than this much: For the magnesium that’s naturally in food and water, there is no upper limit.
For magnesium in supplements or fortified foods: 350 milligrams per day
Manganese
Foods that have it: Nuts, beans and other legumes, tea, whole grains
How much you need:
Men: 2.3 milligrams per day
Women: 1.8 milligrams per day, unless pregnant or breastfeeding
During pregnancy: 2.0 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding: 2.6 milligrams per day
What it does: Helps form bones and make some enzymes
Don’t get more than this much: 11 milligrams per day for adults
Molybdenum
Foods that have it: Legumes, leafy vegetables, grains, nuts
How much you need:
Adults: 45 micrograms per day, unless pregnant or breastfeeding
While pregnant or breastfeeding: 50 micrograms per day
What it does: Needed to make some enzymes
Don’t get more than this much: 2,000 micrograms per day for adults
Phosphorus
Foods that have it: Milk and other dairy products, peas, meat, eggs, some cereals and breads
How much you need:
Adults: 700 milligrams per day
What it does: Cells need it to work normally, helps make energy, needed for bone growth
Don’t get more than this much:
Adults up to age 70: 4,000 milligrams per day (The limit is lower if you’re pregnant.)
During pregnancy: 3,500 milligrams per day
Adults aged 70 and older: 3,000 milligrams per day
Potassium
Foods that have it: Potatoes, bananas, yogurt, milk, yellowfin tuna, soybeans, variety of fruits and vegetables
How much you need:
Adults: 4,700 milligrams per day, unless breastfeeding
While breastfeeding: 5,100 milligrams per day
What it does: Helps control blood pressure, makes kidney stones less likely
Don’t get more than this much: No upper limit known for adults. But high doses of potassium can be fatal.
Selenium
Foods that have it: Organ meats, seafood, dairy, some plants (if grown in soil with selenium), Brazil nuts
How much you need:
Adults: 55 micrograms per day, unless pregnant or breastfeeding
During pregnancy: 60 micrograms per day
While breastfeeding: 70 micrograms per day
What it does: Protects cells from damage, helps manage thyroid function
Don’t get more than this much: 400 micrograms per day for adults
Sodium
Foods that have it: Foods made with added salt, such as processed and restaurant foods
How much you need:
Adults aged 19-50: up to 1,500 milligrams per day
Adults aged 51-70: up to 1,300 milligrams per day
Adults aged 71 and older: up to 1,200 milligrams per day
What it does: Important for fluid balance
Don’t get more than this much: 2,300 milligrams per day for adults, or as instructed by your doctor, depending on whether you have certain conditions, like high blood pressure
Vitamin A
Foods that have it: Sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, fortified cereals
How much you need:
Men: 900 micrograms per day
Women: 700 micrograms per day
During pregnancy: 770 micrograms per day
While breastfeeding: 1,300 micrograms per day
What it does: Needed to support vision, the immune system, and reproduction
Don’t get more than this much: 3,000 micrograms per day for adults
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Foods that have it: Whole-grain, enriched, fortified products like bread and cereals
How much you need:
Men: 1.2 milligrams per day
Women: 1.1 milligrams per day
While pregnant or breastfeeding: 1.4 milligram per day
What it does: Helps the body process carbs and some proteins
Don’t get more than this amount: No upper limit known for adults
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Foods that have it: Milk, bread products, fortified cereals
How much you need:
Men: 1.3 milligrams per day
Women: 1.1 milligrams per day
During pregnancy : 1.4 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding: 1.6 milligrams per day
What it does: Helps convert food into energy, helps make red blood cells
Don’t get more than this much: No upper limit known for adults
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Foods that have it: Meat, fish, poultry, enriched and whole-grain breads, fortified cereals
How much you need:
Men: 16 milligrams per day
Women: 14 milligrams per day
During pregnancy: 18 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding: 17 milligrams per day
What it does: Helps with digestion and with making cholesterol
Don’t get more than this amount: No upper limit from natural sources. If you’re an adult who takes niacin supplements or you get niacin from fortified foods, don’t get more than 35 milligrams per day.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
Foods that have it: Chicken, beef, potatoes, oats, cereals, tomatoes
How much you need:
Adults: 5 milligrams per day
During pregnancy: 6 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding: 7 milligrams per day
What it does: Helps turn carbs, protein, and fat into energy
Don’t get more than this much: No upper limit known for adults
Vitamin B6
Foods that have it: Fortified cereals, fortified soy products, chickpeas, potatoes, organ meats
How much you need:
Men and women aged 19-50: 1.3 milligrams per day
During pregnancy: 1.9 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding: 2 milligrams per day
Men aged 51 and older: 1.7 milligrams per day
Women aged 51 and older: 1.5 milligrams per day
What it does: Helps with metabolism, the immune system, babies’ brain development
Don’t get more than this amount: 100 milligrams per day for adults
Vitamin B7 (biotin)
Foods that have it: Liver, fruits, meats
How much you need:
Adults: 30 micrograms per day, except for breastfeeding women
Breastfeeding adults: 35 micrograms per day
What it does: Helps your body make fats, protein, other things your cells need
Don’t get more than this amount: No upper limit known
Vitamin B12
Foods that have it: Fish, poultry, meat, dairy products, fortified cereals
How much you need:
Adults: 2.4 micrograms per day
During pregnancy: 2.6 micrograms per day
While breastfeeding: 2.8 micrograms per day
What it does: Helps your body make red blood cells
Don’t get more than this amount: No upper limit known
Vitamin C
Foods that have it: Red and green peppers, kiwis, oranges and other citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes
How much you need:
Men: 90 milligrams per day
Women: 75 milligrams per day, unless pregnant or breastfeeding
During pregnancy: 85 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding : 120 milligrams per day
Smokers: Add 35 milligrams to the numbers above
What it does: Helps protect against cell damage, supports the immune system, helps your body make collagen
Don’t get more than this much: 2,000 milligrams per day for adults
Vitamin D
Foods that have it: Fish liver oils, fatty fish, fortified milk products, fortified cereals
How much you need:
Adults aged 19-70: 600 international units (IU) per day
Adults aged 71 and older: 800 IU per day
What it does: Needed for bones, muscles, the immune system, communication between the brain and the rest of your body
Don’t get more than this much: 4,000 IU per day for adults unless directed by your doctor
Vitamin E
Foods that have it: Fortified cereals, sunflower seeds, almonds, peanut butter, vegetable oils
How much you need:
Adults: 15 milligrams per day, including during pregnancy
While breastfeeding: 19 milligrams per day
What it does: Helps protect cells against damage
Don’t get more than this amount: 1,000 milligrams per day for adults
Vitamin K
Foods that have it: Green vegetables like spinach, collards, and broccoli; Brussels sprouts; cabbage
How much you need:
Men: 120 micrograms per day
Women: 90 micrograms per day
What it does: Important in blood clotting and bone health
Don’t get more than this amount: No upper limit known for adults
Zinc
Foods that have it: Red meats, some seafood, fortified cereals
How much you need:
Men: 11 milligrams per day
Women: 8 milligrams per day, unless pregnant or breastfeeding
During pregnancy: 11 milligrams per day
While breastfeeding: 12 milligrams per day
What it does: Supports your immune system and nerve function, aids reproduction
Don’t get more than this amount: 40 milligrams per day for adults.
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/vitamins-and-minerals-good-food-sources
Fruit juice is perfectly fine as long as you ferment it first.......................
So a carnivore (animal based) diet gives us ALL the vitamins and minerals we need. With the right proportions and with the highest bio-availability possible (nearly no anti-nutrients compared to many in greens).
Thank you for the summary.
“Fruit juice is perfectly fine as long as you ferment it first”
My point was, We are omnivores. And a few certain things from fruits and vegetables help us digest and make the best of the meat intake. If not our life span would only be 40 years as it once was when we were primarily meat eaters.
Now of course some anthropological backgrounds like the Inuits resources and even the Mongolians who can live on almost nothing but horse milk were adapted over thousands of years. I am myself Native American and can survive on extremely sparse combinations and fasting is actually beneficial. Early man’s survival was dependent on hunting and gathering. Sometimes it was two or three days in between successful kills and they had to then gorge while they could because fasting until the next kill was just a reality.
But they also had to take advantage of edible plants when in season or they would have went extinct. We are rooted in a fine line of profit and loss with calories, vitamins, and mineral intake or we would not have survived as a species. It took everything we could get before we expended what we had consumed prior. Both meat and plants. Just like a Bear...
If I’m going to drink something sugary, it’s real fruit juice. But that is very rare. Fruit is good for you. Fruit juice is not. It’s just not as bad as a Coke or Pepsi.
Frankly, when my wife and I eat at restaurants we drink club soda with a lime.
” If not our life span would only be 40 years as it once was when we were primarily meat eaters.”
Ok, I get that you want to make the point that we are omnivores. But if your point was valid, why is it shot with so many demonstrably false claims? It’s just as if you want to scuttle it with inconsistencies, that makes no sense.
I’ve had a glass of fresh pure orange juice every day in the morning for the last 55 years. And I’m still here to annoy people on Free Republic
Life is a matter of priorities. And I happen to think that pure fruit juice is pretty low on the list of things that we need to worry about for children.
One is a extremist and a kook for being concerned with Mercury in vaccines that are given to new babies. Fruit juice man that’s a whole nother deal we need to shut down
Anything in excess is not healthy but as a category fruit juice is not "bad".
Especially if you add in some yeast, attach an air lock to the lid and leave it alone for a few weeks.
And I will die on that hill.
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