Kids aren’t the only ones who can benefit from drinking 100% juice. A recent analysis of NHANES data (2013-2016) published in Nutrients found that adults can reap rewards too.
The study which looked at 24-hour dietary recalls from a nationally representative sample of adults 19 years or older, found 100% fruit juice consumption is associated with a 10% higher Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score than non-juice consumption. The higher HEI score was due to higher intakes of whole fruit and total fruit and lower intakes of added sugar, saturated fat and sodium. Adult juice drinkers also had significantly higher intakes of calcium, vitamin D, potassium, thiamin, folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, with the first three nutrients, considered “nutrients of concern” by the 2015 Dietary Guidelines – meaning Americans need more of them.
Considering that the majority of Americans, about 88%, fall short of meeting their fruit consumption needs, adding a glass of 100% juice to your diet can significantly help boost your total fruit intake.
There’s other good news too! Compared to nonconsumers, adults who consume 100% fruit juice had lower body mass index and a lower body weight. In fact, the study noted that despite a 8% higher energy intake, juice consumers had a 22% lower risk for being overweight or obese. They also had a 27% lower risk of metabolic syndrome compared to non-consumers.
In addition to containing no added sugar and the same nutrients found in the fruit it is squeezed from, 100% juice also has a number of plant bioactives which can be beneficial to good health. Bioactives give juice its unique color, taste and smell.
