New Research Supports Drinking 100% Juice as Part of a Healthy Diet

Washington D.C. (March 2) – Despite 2015 Dietary Guideline recommendations to eat more fruit, few Americans are meeting the challenge.  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention only 12% of Americans are getting enough fruit, in all forms, in their diet.

For people who are struggling to add more fruit to their diet, 100% fruit juice can be the perfect supplement to help reach fruit consumption goals. Science shows drinking juice can, not only increase total fruit intake, it can also have a positive impact on health and diet when consumed in appropriate amounts and along with a healthy diet. Here is a summary of three new peer-reviewed research showing that:

  1. Drinking 100% juice is associated with higher diet quality in both children and adults

Author: Matthieu Maillot PhD, et. al.

Frontiers in Nutrition, August 2019

NHANES analysis looking at beverage consumption patterns and body weight, found no significant relation between 100% fruit juice, milk and water consumption and body weight status. Diets in the top quartiles of diet quality (higher total HEI-2015 score) were associated with higher intakes of milk, 100% juice, and water compared to those in the lower quartiles (or who drank less). Fruit juice consumption is not associated with body weight status in children and is associated with higher quality diets.

Authors: Sanjiv Agarwal et. al.

Nutrients, October 2019

NHANES analysis of adults (19+ years) which assessed diet quality related to drinking 100% juice. Researchers found 100% fruit juice consumption was associated with better nutrient intake and better diet quality than nonconsumption. The study also showed that 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. 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. Adults who consume 100% fruit juice had lower body mass index, lower body weight, a 22% lower risk for being overweight or obese and a 27% lower risk of metabolic syndrome compared to non-consumers.

  1. Drinking juice provides beneficial plant bioactive compounds to the diet
  2. Study: Potential health benefits of (poly)phenols derived from fruit and 100% fruit juice

Author: Kacie K.H.Y. Ho, et. al.

Nutrition Reviews, September 2019

This review looked at polyphenols derived from fruit and 100% fruit juice. It showed that similar to coffee and tea, fruit and fruit juices have been identified as major (poly)phenol contributors in the US diet. This research suggests bioactives found in fruit and fruit juice may have the potential to positively impact human health.  Some of the health benefits associated with fruit polyphenols found in this study include reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, which is also supported by a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published in August 2019 by Gowri Ramen, and benefits to neurocognitive function and exercise performance. Overall, 100% juice adds a significant number of bioactives to the American diet, without negatively impacting weight status or chronic disease risk. Fruit bioactives include carotenoids, polyphenols such as flavonoids and more.

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