8. Fruit Juice
In the mornings, we often reach for a glass of fruit juice in the hope of getting the day off to a good start with one of our ‘five a day’. Because fruit juice has the word ‘fruit’ in it, we often associate it with being healthy. But choosing the right drinks can help you avoid unpleasant side effects, manage your symptoms, and maintain a healthy weight.
Fruit juices can be loaded with many important micronutrients, especially vitamins and minerals, that are not broken down during the process of juicing, and this is especially true when blended from whole fruits. Fresh fruit juices with no added sugar are certainly recommendable as opposed to sugary drinks like sodas.
However, it’s important to bear in mind that some juices made from concentrates contain considerable amounts of sugar; this can wreak havoc on your blood sugar level and increase your risk of weight gain. Try to choose fruit juices that are 100% pure and contain no added sugars. It’s also good to be aware that most fruit juices sold commercially are pasteurised, i.e., treated with mild heat, usually to less than 100 °C (212 °F), to eliminate pathogens and extend their shelf life, which may result in lower levels of certain nutrients. So, it’s best to press your own juice.
