Fruit Juice & Drinks
Fruit and vegetable juice can provide a range of important nutrients like vitamins A and C, folate, and other antioxidants, as well as carbohydrates or ‘natural sugars.’
While it remains important to eat fruit and vegetables because of their fiber content, drinking juice can be a convenient way to help top up your fruit and vegetable intake. Also, many fruit and vegetable juices have a low Glycemic Index (GI), mainly because fructose is a natural fruit sugar and provides a slow energy release to help you through the day.
Vitamin C - Making collagen that repairs body tissues. Increasing the amount of iron absorbed from foods like breakfast cereals.
Carbohydrate - Fuel for the body. Assists growth and vitality.
Antioxidants - Protecting against free radicals which can damage the cells in our body.
Folate - Formation of genetic material (i.e. DNA) and red blood cells. Important for pregnant women.
Potassium - Maintaining fluid balance and healthy functioning of muscles and nerves
There are a range of other great reasons to make moderate juice consumption a part of your family’s daily diet:
Great source of vitamin C – the National Nutrition Survey shows in Australia fruit juices can provide at least a third of a child's daily vitamin C intake and a quarter of an adult's daily vitamin C intake.
Juice helps kids get the vitamins and minerals they need – findings from the Australian Children's Survey shows kids that drink juice are more likely to achieve their average recommended intake of fruit serves (2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey), vitamins and minerals (including vitamins A and C, folate and potassium) and less fat, without compromising fibre or calcium intakes
Antioxidants - antioxidants are one of the body's defense mechanisms against life stresses, preventing damage to free radicals. Grape, apple, blackcurrant, cranberry, tomato and carrot juices all provide the goodness of antioxidants
Iron boosting - juice also plays an important role at breakfast. The vitamin C in juice helps to boost the amount of iron absorbed from foods, such as breakfast cereal.
Make sure you understand the difference between fruit juice and ‘fruit drinks’. Fruit drinks contain less fruit, and may contain added sugar.
For a full list of references in relation to the content on this page, visit http://bega.com.au/