Juice!

What comes to mind when you think of the early childhood years? Diapers, nursing, and those first beautiful, toothless smiles? If your children are a bit older it may be teething, potty training, sipper cups and juice. Juice boxes, juice bottles, juice drinks, juice pouches...grocery stores have entire aisles dedicated to such products. In our culture, juice is nearly synonymous with childhood. But should it be?

To answer that we need a brief primer on the different types of fruit juice. Most of us are aware of the difference between "juice drink" and 100% fruit juice. Juice drink is typically a small amount of fruit juice with refined sugar, artificial colors and flavorings added. When the package indicates that it is "100% juice" we know it's better than "juice drink," - right? Well, that's where it gets tricky.

Manufacturers know the draw of the "100% juice" label for conscientious parents. They are also well aware that the sweeter their product, the more kids will demand it. So, in an effort to satisfy both camps, many companies use juice concentrate that has not been fully reconstituted. In other words, it is still concentrated juice because it has not been completely diluted with water. It has the sweeter taste of "juice drinks" and yet, it can be labeled 100% juice.

Unless the package specifically states "not from concentrate", it can be difficult to discern between these types of real juice since both list juice concentrates among their ingredients. One way is through close scrutiny of the packaging. Now this is just meant as a rule of thumb, but the package with the eye catching, kid-friendly graphics tends to be the concentrated juice. Whereas, the label that merely pictures an apple and brand name is more likely a fully reconstituted juice.

Something else to consider before you fill that sipper cup with any kind of juice is what does the juice contain, as well as what does it lack. When a fruit is made into juice the pulp is removed. The pulp contains all of the fiber and almost all of the fruit's vitamins and minerals. The resulting 100% fruit juice is really just sugar, water and calories. While it is natural sugar from carbohydrates in the fruit, the human body still treats it as it would any other sugar. The more concentrated the juice, the more sugar and calories contained therein.

As a nation, we are primarily concerned with fat content and have forgotten the importance of watching our sugar and caloric intake. We all need nutritious calories to maintain health and keep our immune system functioning properly. This is especially true in growing children where empty calories mean a lost opportunity for vitamins and minerals necessary for their developing bodies,. High sugar consumption is associated with diseases such as diabetes and obesity. It is for this reason that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limiting children under six years of age to 6 ounces or less of fruit juice per day.

The AAP has found excessive juice consumption to cause tooth decay, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence. They have even linked it to malnutrition and stunted growth in extreme cases.

So, the next time that you find yourself perusing your local grocery store, take a look at that juice aisle. Consider the ramifications and ask yourself if these juice products really deserve to be so closely associated with childhood. Then, turn your cart back to the produce section and grab a few more apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, pears.....

Written by Michelle Love, M.Ed & reprinted from Nursing Family Newsletter