Smoothy Slim
Photo by Olena Bohovyk Pexels Logo Photo: Olena Bohovyk

Can you gain weight by only drinking juice?

Juice makes us feel full quickly and the excess calories from juice can cause weight gain. Also, 100% juice from stores can have sugar added to improve its taste. Consumption of added sugar is unhealthy as it provides empty calories without any other nutrients and can lead to weight gain.

Can I have detox tea on empty stomach?
Can I have detox tea on empty stomach?

Most experts recommend drinking detox tea in the morning, but it ultimately depends on your goals. If you are trying to lose weight, for example,...

Read More »
Which form of vitamin C is best absorbed?
Which form of vitamin C is best absorbed?

Liposomal Vitamin C Form: Liposomal Vitamin C This form is the best absorbed and is great for those with digestive problems because it can be...

Read More »
Strange purple cocktail removes 2.7lbs every 4 days
Strange purple cocktail removes 2.7lbs every 4 days

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Juicing is a popular trend these days and is touted for its weight loss and detoxing benefits. To keep up with the increasing demand, plenty of ready-to-drink juice options are available in stores. However, we have reasons to believe that although juicing does increase fruit intake, it may not be as healthy as it sounds and it may even be unhealthy in excess and in the long term.

How healthy is juicing?

Several reports suggests that consumption of 100% fruit juice help deliver essential nutrients, is a cost-effective way by which people can satisfy fruit intake recommendations, and allows access to a variety of fruits throughout the year. 100% juice can retain the nutritional value of whole fruit, with the exception of vitamin C and fiber, when appropriate production methods and storage conditions are applied. However, some reports say the fruit juice consumption leads to unhealthy outcomes, especially among children. Juice makes us feel full quickly and the excess calories from juice can cause weight gain. Also, 100% juice from stores can have sugar added to improve its taste. Consumption of added sugar is unhealthy as it provides empty calories without any other nutrients and can lead to weight gain. Although juicing can be a great way to add more fruits into your diet, it is recommended that your majority fruit intake is in the form of whole fruits, which can include fresh, dried, canned, or frozen fruits. Although juicing helps increase your intake of essential nutrients and incorporate a large variety of fruits in your daily diet, one should not rely on fruit juice as a sole source of fruit intake. This is because precious fiber and vitamins are removed from the whole fruit while preparing the juice and juice alone won’t provide all the nutrients you need.

What do research and guidelines say?

Some reports suggest that drinking 100% fruit juice causes weight gain, while whole fruit consumption leads to weight loss. They show that an increase of a six-ounce serving of 100% fruit juice per day was associated with a modest weight gain in the long term. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend choosing whole fruits over fruit juice when possible and drinking 100% fruit juice in moderation. According to surveys, the total fruit intake in the US is approximately 1 cup per day, which is roughly half of what the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends for adults. Also, two-thirds of the fruit consumed is in the form of whole fruit and one-third is in the form of 100% juice. Dietary modeling studies recommend a combination of whole fruit and 100% juice in order to meet the shortfall in fruit intake in children. This combination may also help boost dietary intake of vitamin C and potassium without a significant increase in calorie intake or weight gain.

How do you survive a juice cleanse?
How do you survive a juice cleanse?

Keep reading to find out how to have a successful juice cleanse at work. Pack Healthy Work Lunches Before Your Cleanse. ... Organize Yourself. ......

Read More »
Why do I bloat when I don't eat?
Why do I bloat when I don't eat?

You're skipping meals. Manning says it's likely your stomach is searching for something to digest because you should actually be eating a meal. But...

Read More »
Weird “juice ritual” removes 65lbs in weeks
Weird “juice ritual” removes 65lbs in weeks

A potent powdered supplement, based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Towards healthy juicing

If you consume store-brought juice a lot, start reading the ingredients list carefully before buying. Look out for added sugar in the ingredients list, as it increases the calorific value of the drink. Sweeteners come in many forms and can go by any of the following names: fructose, honey, corn syrup, sucrose, and dextrose. Even better - start juicing at home, so you know what goes into your drink. Instead of juicing, try blending. According to a 2014 study published in Preventive Nutrition and Food Science, blended drinks of apples, berries and pears, apart from retaining the fiber, have stronger antioxidant activity and higher amounts of phenolic compounds compared to those produced by juicing. Yet, there are some benefits of juicing as the same study also found that ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C, content was higher in drinks prepared this way. Switch to smoothies which use whole fruit without removing the fiber, which is an important part of a healthy diet.. If you still choose to consume juice, make it part of a balanced diet that includes all food groups rich in fiber, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Sources Sweet Drinks and Obesity. www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/education/sweet_drinks_and_obesity/

Rethink Your Drink. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/drinks.html

Squeezing Fact from Fiction about 100% Fruit Juice. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4352186/

Juicing 101: Nutrition Tips for Consumers. www.nutrition.gov/subject/shopping-cooking-meal-planning/juicing-101

Juicing: Body Cleansing or Nutrient Depleting? exploreim.ucla.edu/.../

Association of 100% fruit juice consumption and 3-year weight change among postmenopausal women in the in the Women's Health Initiative. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743518300045

Further Reading

How long can gut bacteria live without food?
How long can gut bacteria live without food?

Bacteria survive and thrive even in the harshest environments. Scientists have characterized species thriving in Antarctica, and even in deep-sea...

Read More »
What meat has no salt?
What meat has no salt?

Meat and Poultry fresh, unprocessed beef products. fresh, unprocessed pork products, such as pork tenderloin. fresh fish. fresh poultry, packed...

Read More »
Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab
Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »
Is it noticeable to lose 10 pounds?
Is it noticeable to lose 10 pounds?

Yes, indeed, a weight loss of 10 pounds is noticeable. Evidence suggests that men and women of standard height must drop 8 to 9 pounds for weight...

Read More »
Purple mojito “devours” 57lbs of flab?
Purple mojito “devours” 57lbs of flab?

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »
Is drinking fresh juice the same as eating fruit?
Is drinking fresh juice the same as eating fruit?

Juicing is no healthier than eating whole fruits and vegetables. Juicing extracts the juice from fresh fruits or vegetables. The liquid contains...

Read More »