Can fruit juice be harmful?

Can fruit juice be harmful? (James F. Quinn, Chicago Tribune / May 24, 2012)

Many public health officials are warning patients that fruit juice poses many of the same health risks as soft drinks when it comes to obesity and diabetes. What concrete actions can consumers take?

Global nutrition professor Barry Popkin and others advise eating whole fruits (which contain fiber) instead of drinking fruit juices so that a feeling of fullness is delivered with the sugars and calories.

Some new, less sugary juice products are on the market, he said, but parents also can simply water down juice at home.

Although liquids won't quell hunger as well as solid foods, Popkin said a smoothie made, for example, with bananas, blueberries, ice and no sugar would be "a hell of a lot better than just blueberry juice" because the smoothie would contain the fruits' fiber.

Health advocates also note that even if a product is labeled as 100 percent juice with no added sugar, it can contain high levels of "natural" sugar. Also, fruit juice concentrates can make a product much sweeter than juice obtained simply from squeezing fruit.

New York University nutrition professor Marion Nestle acknowledges that cutting out juice entirely might not be realistic for everyone.

"In theory, it's absolutely true," Nestle said of the need to avoid juice. "In practice, it's best to restrict to 6 or 8 ounces a day, max. The best advice? Don't drink your calories!"