V8 juice is also substantially lower in sugar compared to soda and fruit juice, making it the optimal choice if you are trying to limit sugar intake. An 8-ounce serving of V8 has only 7 grams of sugar compared to the average 39 grams found in a 12-ounce serving of soda.
Even if you have plenty of fresh vegetables in your refrigerator, it can sometimes be a challenge to turn them into a healthy meal, especially when it comes to prep and cook time. But it’s important to ensure you eat enough veggies to meet your nutritional needs.
If convenience and taste are key for getting your veggies, V8 juice could be a good choice. Original V8 juice ingredients include a blend of carrots, watercress, lettuce, parsley, spinach, beets, celery, and tomatoes. The juice is low in fat and sugar and contains some vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in vegetables.
V8 Juice Nutrition Facts
One cup of V8 juice (240ml) provides 50 calories, 2g of protein, 10g of carbohydrates, and 0g of fat. V8 is an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin A. The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for a 1-cup serving.
Calories : 50
: 50 Fat : 0g
: 0g Sodium : 650mg
: 650mg Carbohydrates : 10g
: 10g Fiber : 2g
: 2g Sugars : 7g
: 7g Protein : 2g
: 2g Potassium : 520mg
: 520mg Vitamin C: 30mg
Carbs
When you drink vegetable juice, you typically don't consume as much fiber as you do when you eat whole vegetables. For example, a tomato (1.5 grams of fiber), a cup of beets (3.8 grams), and a stalk of celery (0.6 grams of fiber) would give you about 6 total grams of fiber. One glass of V8, on the other hand, only provides 2 grams of fiber.
Not only does fiber improve digestion and regularity, but according to the USDA, a healthy dietary pattern that includes the recommended intake of fiber can also help decrease the risk of some types of cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
V8 juice is a low-glycemic food with a score of 43. V8 juice contains complex carbohydrates, which provide the body with long-lasting energy compared to simple carbohydrates. Simple carbs, found in sodas and fruit juices, cause a blood sugar spike that peters out soon after consumption, resulting in a short-lived energy boost.
V8 juice is also substantially lower in sugar compared to soda and fruit juice, making it the optimal choice if you are trying to limit sugar intake. An 8-ounce serving of V8 has only 7 grams of sugar compared to the average 39 grams found in a 12-ounce serving of soda.
Fats
Similar to most vegetables, there is no fat in V8 juice.
Protein
There is very little protein in V8 juice, as is the case with the majority of vegetables.
Vitamins and Minerals
Most V8 vegetable juice products are a good source of potassium, which your body needs to regulate blood pressure, prevent muscle cramping, and keep electrolytes balanced. V8 also provides vitamin A to boost your immune system and vitamin C, which is also important for the immune system and helps with wound healing and collagen synthesis.
Calories
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One cup of V8 juice (240ml) provides 50 calories, most of which come from carbs. There are no fat calories in V8 and it is not a good source of protein.
Summary V8 is a high-sodium beverage, but it is low in calories and provides some fiber as well as many nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin A.
Health Benefits
If you enjoy the taste of V8 juice, you'll be glad to know it does have some nutritional benefits.
May Protect Against Heart Disease
There is some evidence that lycopene, a nutrient high in antioxidants and the pigment that gives tomatoes their bright red hue, could help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by decreasing systolic blood pressure (the top number of your blood pressure reading).
May Reduce the Risk of Certain Cancers
High concentrations of lycopene in the blood are connected to a lower risk of developing certain cancers, including breast, uterine, prostate, and lung. Lycopene both halts the multiplication of abnormal cells and prevents the development of malignant growths. These effects are primarily thought to be due to lycopene's antioxidant properties.
Beta carotene—a carotenoid found in spinach, carrots, and subsequently, in V8 juice—is the precursor to vitamin A, which plays an important role in eye health. Our eyes also contain the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which help prevent eye diseases and sustain eye health.
Carotenoids are antioxidants that defend against oxidative stress, programmed cell death, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Their ability to absorb light allows them to shield the eye’s retina and lens from photochemical damage.
May Boost Athletic Performance
Long bouts of exercise have been known to cause oxidative stress in humans. Damage caused by oxidative stress is associated with the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and neurodegenerative diseases.
A 2011 research study involving 50 male athletes ages 20 to 25 showed that consuming 75ml of tomato juice (containing 10mcg of the antioxidant lycopene) enhances the body’s defense against oxidative stress.
In addition, a small study published in 2016 (involving just 10 healthy men and women) found that “consuming tomato juice before or during an exercise session can reduce post-exercise fatigue,” which could motivate people to start exercising more often.
Suitable for Gluten-Free and Keto Diets
V8 juice is safe to consume on a gluten-free diet, as none of the ingredients contain or are derived from wheat-based products (including green varieties, which contain spinach, not wheatgrass).
There are only 10 grams of carbohydrates in a serving of V8. When consumed in moderation, this veggie drink is also considered keto-friendly.
Allergies
It’s not uncommon for someone with pollen allergies to also have a reaction when consuming foods with similar protein structures. This is known as oral allergy syndrome (OAS) or pollen fruit syndrome (PFS). Tomatoes, the main ingredient in V8, could cause PFS due to a protein called profilin, which is found in both grass pollen and tomatoes.
If you are watching or trying to limit your sodium intake, V8 juice might not be a healthy choice for you. Just one serving provides 650 milligrams of sodium, 27% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) and daily value (used for food labels) of sodium. Some of the spicy varieties of v8 juice contain even more sodium. If you have heartburn or acid reflux, avoiding tomato juice is also recommended.
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Certain fruit juices are reported to bring about negative food-drug interactions, meaning that how a drug affects a person may vary based on how it mixes with another drug, food, beverage, or supplement the person consumes.
Tomato juice was found to have reactions similar to grapefruit juice when it interacted with certain drugs. Before deciding to incorporate V8 juice into your diet, be sure to check with your prescriber if you are taking any medication.
Varieties
The calorie counts and nutrition facts for V8 juice depend on the product you buy. There are many variations on the original V8, some of which have different nutrient profiles, such as lower sodium or higher fiber. You might also find V8 +Energy Drinks (which include vegetable juice, fruit juice, and caffeine) and V8 +Hydrate beverages (which contain added electrolytes).
The V8 brand also offers blended fruit juices such as V8 Strawberry Banana, V8 Peach Mango, V8 Pomegranate Blueberry, V8 Concord Concord Grape Cranberry, and V8 Carrot Mango, among others. Keep in mind that the fruit and veggie blended beverages have more sugar and calories than traditional vegetable juice.
Storage and Food Safety
You'll find V8 juice in the (unrefrigerated) beverage section of the grocery store. You don't need to refrigerate it when you bring it home as long as it stays unopened, but will want to put it in the fridge once opened.
According to the Campbell's Soup Company (the manufacturer of V8), if the container is a 46-ounce or 64-ounce plastic bottle, you should use it within 14 days of opening.
How to Prepare
Sipping on a glass of V8 juice is only one way to include V8 in a healthy diet. You might also add V8 to smoothies instead of sweeter juices like apple or carrot.
If you usually drink soda with your lunch or dinner, drink V8 instead. To cut down on calories and reduce your sodium intake, choose lower sodium varieties and add water, ice, or a splash of seltzer to dilute your drink.
Smoothy Slim
Photo: eberhard grossgasteiger
