Imagine you're in the store trying to decide. Do you go for freshly squeezed juice, regular juice, or something else?
And what does "from concentrate" even mean?
Juice from concentrate starts with fresh fruit. They take out the water from the fruit pulp, which makes it concentrated. This way, it's easier and cheaper to transport. When it reaches the juice factory, they add water back to it. But sometimes, some nutrients get lost in the process.
On the other hand, regular juice, called "not from concentrate," is just fruit juice with nothing added. They take the fruit, remove the bits you can't eat, like seeds and peel, and squeeze out the juice. Then they heat it up to make it last longer.
Now, people often think that "not from concentrate" juice is healthier because it keeps more of the good stuff from the fruit. But it really depends on things like how much you drink and what kind of fruit it is.
There are different types of fruit juices:
NFC Juice: Not from concentrate means squeezed from the fruit, edible parts removed to obtain a 100% natural product. Fruit Juice Concentrate: is used by industrial processors in a distinctive recipe fit for each market’s taste and brand with different fruit content, as follows: CSD (Carbonated Drinks) contain between 1-3% of fruit on average, in some cases specific formulations of essential oils, aromas, sweeteners and water. Drinks are categorised as a low fruit content product, average containing 3-10% of fruit, flavours, sweeteners and water. Nectars vary depending on the legislation of each country and manufacturer preference, and can range from 20-45% fruit content, plus flavours, sweeteners and water. A 100% juice made from concentrate is free from added sugars, in some cases preservatives are permitted.
Is juice not from concentrate better for you?
Well, here's the thing: fruit juice is basically sugar from plants in liquid form. But unlike when you eat fruit, juice doesn't have the fiber. Some brands add fiber later to make it healthier.
Now, juice not from concentrate keeps more of the good stuff from the fruit, like micronutrients, because it's not processed as much. So, in that sense, it might be healthier. But whether a juice is healthy or not depends on how much you drink, what fruit it's made from, and the brand. Different companies have different ways of making juice, so they might have different levels of quality.
In the end, it's all about balance and knowing what's in your juice. If you enjoy it, go ahead and have some, but don't forget about the other good stuff you need to eat too.
Some juices have more fruit in them than others. So, not all juices are the same.
Juice is kind of like a sugary drink made from plants. It doesn't have the fiber you get from eating fruit, but some brands add it later to make it healthier.
And did you know that fruit juice can be good for you, depending on how much you drink and what else you eat? But sometimes, people avoid it because they think it's not healthy.
In the end, it's essential to understand what's in your juice and how it's made. That way, you can make the best choice for you.
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