While nutritionists recommend eating whole fruits for the fiber and added nutritional benefits you get from the flesh and pulp (and because juices may have more sugar than the fruits themselves) certain juices can offer real health benefits.
Now, get the juicy facts about these sweet nectars of Mother Nature — before you pick your next bottle off the shelf!
# 1 Best Juice Pick: Vegetable Juice
Do your body a favor and enjoy a glass of vegetable juice. Veggie juices are friendlier to your waistline than typical fruit juices since they're lower in sugar and calories. Plus, they're loaded with important plant-based nutrients good for your health. Lycopene, the powerful antioxidant that gives tomato juice its red color, may help lower the risk of prostate cancer. Beet juice may help reduce blood pressure.
2nd Best Pick: Pomegranate Juice
A rich dose of antioxidants make this ruby-red beverage a jewel among juices. The nutrients in pomegranates may help protect brain function and fend off cancer. Plus, studies suggest pomegranate juice may even help prevent the buildup of fatty deposits in the carotid arteries in your neck.
Other Good Choices
Cranberry Juice — Loaded with vitamin C and other powerful antioxidants, cranberry juice may help prevent cardiovascular disease, stomach ulcers and cancer. Drinking just 10 ounces a day of unsweetened cranberry juice may also help reduce your risk of urinary tract infections.
Blueberry Juice — In one 12-week study, adults in their 70s with age-related memory decline experienced significant improvement in learning and memory tests after drinking two and a half cups of blueberry juice each day. So enjoy a glass or two of this blue wonder juice daily, and help boost your brain health and keep your memory sharp.
Acai Berry Juice — Native to South America, the acai berry holds promise as a juice superhero. While more research is yet to be done, early studies indicate the high concentration of antioxidants in the acai berry's pulp may surpass amounts found in cranberries, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries.
Cherry Juice — Not just the darling of fruit pies and turnovers, cherries are also the sweetheart of juices. Cherry juice delivers an abundant serving of antioxidants along with a side of anti-inflammatory benefits. One study suggests drinking a glass of cherry juice before and after a workout can actually help you reduce exercise-induced muscle pain.
Red Grape Juice — Like red wine in moderation, red grape juice can be good for your heart. Due to its potent dose of flavonoids and resveratrol, drinking an 8-ounce glass of red grape juice each day can help keep your immune system strong and healthy.
Prune Juice — Prune juice has long been touted for its ability to help relieve constipation, and for good reason. Not only is it high in fiber, it contains a natural laxative called sorbitol. Plus, with each 8-ounce glass, you get a whopping dose of antioxidants, iron and potassium — essential nutrients for good health.
Orange Juice — While this popular breakfast staple offers fewer antioxidants than some berry and grape juices, orange juice still delivers a healthy dose of vitamin C — good for your immune system. To help save some calories and protect your bone health, too, choose unsweetened orange juice fortified with calcium and vitamin D.
Worst Choice: Juice Cocktails
Avoid beverages labeled "juice cocktail," "juice-flavored beverage" or "juice drink." They're high in calories and low in nutritional value. That's because most contain hefty servings of sugar and small amounts of real juice. Instead, choose unsweetened juices labeled "100% fruit juice."
Fruits and vegetables are an essential part of any diet. While no juices can completely replace everything you get from eating whole produce, the right ones can provide many of the essentials you need to stay healthy and active
Topic: Get The Scoop On The Best & Worst Juices Four Health (Read 2339 times)