OK, SO, WITH YOUR LACES SECURELY FASTENED, YOU’RE RUNNING AROUND GETTING SOME EXERCISE – AND, MAYBE YOU GET A BIT PARCHED. WHAT COULD BE BETTER FOR REACHING FOR A NICE, HEALTHY GLASS OF JUICE? AFTER ALL, IT’S MADE FROM FRUIT, RIGHT? WELL, THAT MIGHT NOT BE ALL THAT’S IN YOUR GLASS!
JAMES DINAN EXPLAINS!
A GLASS OF ORANGE JUICE IS NOT ONLY A GREAT START TO YOUR DAY, IT ALSO PROVIDES HEALTHY DOSES OF VITAMIN C AND POTASSIUM. OTHER STORE-BOUGHT JUICES HAVE STRONG AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM, WHICH KEEP YOUR BONES HEALTHY. BUT MANY FRUIT JUICES CONTAIN A DECENT AMOUNT OF SUGAR AND CALORIES, WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR THOSE WATCHING THEIR WEIGHT OR BLOOD SUGAR. FOR INSTANCE, AN EIGHT-OUNCE CUP OF ORANGE JUICE HAS 21 GRAMS OF SUGAR AND 112 CALORIES.
COMPARE THAT TO AN ACTUAL ORANGE, WHICH HAS JUST 12 GRAMS OF SUGAR AND 62 CALORIES. FRUIT JUICE ALSO LACKS THE FIBER TYPICALLY FOUND IN FRESH FRUIT. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE SURE YOUR FRUIT JUICE IS THE REAL DEAL? LOOK FOR 100 PERCENT FRUIT JUICE WITH NO SUGAR ADDED. AND LIMIT YOUR JUICE INTAKE TO ONE EIGHT-OUNCE GLASS A DAY. AS YOU HEARD, THE BEST JUICE IS THE STUFF THAT’S MADE ONLY WITH PURE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.
BUT, EVEN BETTER, IS PICKING UP A PIECE OF FRUIT - OR A VEGETABLE ITSELF!
Instructional Links
Slideshow: WebMD, Juices, the Best and Worst for Your Health
Website Article: KidsHealth, Healthy Drinks for Kids | Includes chart with calorie comparisons.
Online Interactive Games: Nourish Interactive, Kids, Solusville | May need to sign in.