HOW IS JUICE AFFECTING YOUR CHILD’S OVERALL AND DENTAL HEALTH?
Juice is doing a lot more to the body than you may even realize. While many think that juice is good because of the nutrients, that’s not always the case. In fact, juice can do a lot more harm to the overall health as well as your child’s dental health. Many articles have come out in recent years about how juice has a lot more sugar than anyone many even realize.According to Dr. Andrea Sanigorski of Deakin University in Australia, fruit juice could actually be playing a part in childhood obesity. Many parents believe that because they’re giving their kids “healthy” juice, they don’t have to limit the amount. The truth is that fruit juice contains a high amount of sugar in the form of fructose.Your body cannot distinguish between sugar from fruits and sugar from candy. Once you’ve consumed sugar, it’s all processed the same way. To avoid health problems later in life, be aware of what juices contain the most sugar, so you can moderate how much you as well as your child drinks.
GRAPE JUICE
Grape juice contains more sugar than any other type of juice. Whether you make it yourself or buy no-sugar-added juice in a box, you’ll still be getting plenty of fructose. A 12 ounce glass of grape juice contains over 58 grams of sugars. This is 20 grams more than a 12 ounces can of Coca-Cola. At 240 calories per 12 ounces, it’s also the fruit with the highest caloric value.
APPLE JUICE
Although it’s sometimes recommended as a good choice for toddlers and children, apple juice is quite high in sugar. A 12 ounce serving contains 39 grams of sugar — just 1 gram less than in a glass of soda. That’s about 10 teaspoons of sugar.
ORANGE JUICE
Although orange juice is high in sugar, it contains less sugar than grape and apple juice. At 33 grams per 12 ounce serving, it falls slightly behind Coca-Cola. However, a glass of soda contains about 145 calories, while a glass of orange juice has 165 calories. So while you’re saving about 2 teaspoons of sugar, you’re still getting more calories overall with orange juice.
BOXED JUICES
While many natural juices are high in fructose, you could still do much worse. Boxed juices are rarely 100 percent juice and instead have added flavorings, colourings and sugars. Juices made from concentrate are usually higher in sugar, as they sometimes contain high-fructose corn syrup or other artificial sweeteners.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, a boxed juice with the words “juice cocktail” on it must contain “some” juice but can also contain water, artificial ingredients, and added sugars. When buying processed fruit juice, compare labels and choose the one with the lowest sugar content.
If your child is consuming a lot of these juices, they are at an increased risk for cavities and tooth decay. We can assess your child’s teeth to make sure they are healthy. To schedule an appointment for a check-up, contact us at 519-305-9100 today!
SOURCE:https://www.livestrong.com/article/450038-juices-with-the-highest-sugar-content/