ASK A DOCTOR
Q: I keep hearing that juices have so much sugar and are bad for you, but all my life I’ve heard drinking fruit juices is good for you. What should I believe?
A: Fruit juices do indeed have a lot of sugar. The average 100 percent fruit juice contains between 11 and 18 grams of carbohydrate per 100 milliliters, while human milk and infant formula contains 7 grams. Fruit juices do indeed contain small amounts of protein and minerals. They can be fortified with vitamins like vitamin C, which makes them healthier. This all sounds good. In small amounts, no more than 6 ounces for a child ages 1-4, and no more than 12 ounces for a child older than 4 can be healthy when consumed with a healthy balanced diet.
The problem is juices are easy to consume, are generally viewed as healthy, and taste good, so parents do not limit their consumption. As a result, too many children ingest too much juice, which causes them to refuse healthier foods, including whole fruits and vegetables. Small and convenient packaging contributes to children walking around with juice and ingesting more than the recommended amounts per day.
Fruit juices lack all the nutrients, including fiber, that are essential to a healthy diet. High levels of sugar (carbohydrates) in juices can lead to diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain. The sugars in juice also contribute to dental cavities.
— Dr. Nita Shumaker, president,
Chattanooga-Hamilton County
Medical Society, Galen Medical Group
Readers: To submit an obesity-related question for a medical doctor, e-mail it to Clint Cooper at ccooper@timesfreepress.com. See this space each week for answers.