Dr. Becky Maes - Is It Bad For You? Approved by Dr. Becky Maes

Is Juice Concentrate Bad For You?


Grade

C


Short answer

Due to the extra sugar and preservatives, juice concentrate can be bad for you if it is not 100% real fruit juice. However, concentrates from only 100% real juice are nearly as healthy as freshly-squeezed juice!

Grade

C

Recommended Alternative


Long answer

Juice concentrate is a juice that has had most of its water content removed. There are many different varieties of juice concentrate, and those from 100% juice can be almost as healthy as fresh juice. Fresh juices still have higher levels of nutrients than their juice concentrate counterparts, but concentrates still maintain good vitamin content despite going through evaporation and filtration processes. 

While the nutrients present depend on the type of juice in question, vitamin C is often top of the list. Vitamin C is great for immune function and therefore for healing wounds and preventing illness and infection. Vitamin A is often present as well, and is essential for healthy skin and vision, as is potassium, which helps manage blood pressure. Recombined with the water that keeps your body hydrated, in moderation, 100% real juice concentrates are actually a decent addition to your diet. 

However, this changes once you move into artificial juice territory. Unfortunately you need to be savvy when it comes to concentrate labels-- if it doesn't specifically state it is 100% real fruit juice concentrate, then it isn't. These products will be called "punch", "drink", "cocktail", or "beverage" and will contain much more sugar as well as other additives and preservatives. These added sugars are stored in your body as fat, and can contribute to weight gain and obesity. Many artificial juices contain high fructose corn syrup, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity. The vitamin content of these artificial juice drinks is also much lower, and in some cases almost non-existent. 

While juice concentrates are less expensive and easier to store than fresh juices, the benefits may outweigh the costs if you are opting for artificial varieties. Concentrates from 100% juice are almost as nutritious as fresh juice, but your best options are still whole fruit or fresh fruit juices.


Possible short-term side effects

  • blood sugar spike
  • hyperactivity

Possible long-term side effects

  • weight gain
  • diabetes

Ingredients to be aware of



Benefits

  • improves immune function
  • protects against illness and infection
  • lowers blood pressure
  • maintains healthy skin
  • maintains healthy vision

Healthier alternatives

  • freshly squeezed juice
  • whole fruit

Our Wellness Pick (what is this?)

Pomona Organic Tart Cherry Juice

  • Non-GMO
  • No added sugar
  • Not from concentrate
  • Gluten-free
  • Kosher certified
Learn More!



Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Lindsay
Published on: 01-27-2016
Last updated: 12-01-2023

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Lindsay
Published on: 01-27-2016
Last updated: 12-01-2023




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