Are fruit juices better than sodas for preventing obesity and tooth decay?
Nope! Let’s look at some of the facts. What exactly is in carbonated drinks? Carbonated soda contains large amounts of sugar. Some contain more than 11 teaspoons of sugar per 12 oz can! Additionally, carbonated drinks also contain acids that eat away at the enamel of the teeth.
What about diet sodas?
Aren’t diet sodas supposed to be good for us? Diet sodas still contain the same acids and do serious damage to tooth enamel.
Are organic or “all natural” juices better than other fruit juices?
Not necessarily. It depends upon the acid and sugar content. Tooth decay is caused the combination of bacteria and food in your mouth. Plaque, the sticky substance, contains bacteria and is always forming on your teeth and gums. Fruit juices, even those labeled “ALL NATURAL,” or “ORGANIC”, are high in sugars which have been shown to cause serious decay. Children who sleep with bottles of juice, natural or otherwise, will have decay problems at a very young age.
What do the labels tell us?
Let’s take a look at R. W. Knudsen’s Organic Concord Grape Juice and Welch’s Healthy Choice 100% Natural Grape Juice. One cup of organic grape juice contains 38 grams of sugar. One cup of Welch’s “natural” juice contains 36 grams of sugar. There is very little difference in the sugar.
_____________________
R. W. Knudsen’s
Organic Concord Grape Juice
Available Sizes (s) 8 FL OZ, 32 FL OZ
CONTAINS 100% JUICE
Nutritional Information
| Serving Size 8 FL OZ (240 ml) |
| Amount Per Serving |
| Calories 150 |
|
% Daily Value * |
| Total Fat 0g |
0% |
| Sodium 15mg |
1% |
| Potassium 250mg |
7% |
| Carbohydrates 39g |
13% |
| Sugars 38g |
|
| Vitamin C |
8% |
| Calcium |
2% |
| Iron |
2% |
Not a significant source of other nutrients.
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
_____________________________________
Welch’s Healthy Start
100% Grape Juice
Serving Size 8 FL OZ
| Amount Per Serving |
| Calories 140 |
|
|
% Daily Value* |
| Total Fat 0 |
|
| Sodium 15mg |
1% |
| Potassium 120mg |
4% |
| Total Carb 38g |
13% |
|
Sugars 36g |
|
| Protein 1g |
|
| Vitamin C |
120% |
| Calcium |
2% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
____________________________________
Are sports drinks healthier than sodas?
Sports drinks might seem great because they are associated with healthy activities. We see photos of muscular athletes drinking sports drinks and think that this is the key to health and fitness. We are also influenced by marketing ads that convince us that this is a necessary and effective means of hydrating ourselves.
Gatorade is regarded as a sports drink that is heavily tested and researched by a team of professionals. These professionals claim that the electrolytes in the drink absorb quickly into the body for hydration making Gatorade essential to the rigorous athlete. Gatorade has a team that is continuously modifying and evaluating their product, especially since they have been under attack in recent years, for their ingredients. However, sports drinks, like natural and organic juices, do contain high levels of sugar. Gatorade and Powerade, for example, contain as much as two-thirds the sugar in carbonated sodas. Organic acids in drinks are very erosive to dental enamel.
Gatorade and other similar power drinks and energy drinks designed for hydration, often contain ingredients that have been found to be less favorable for our health and well-being. Gatorade has water, high fructose corn syrup (glucose-fructose syrup), sucrose syrup, citric acid, natural flavor, salt, sodium citrate, monopotassium phosphate, modified food starch, red 40 and glycerol ester of rosin.
Sugars in sports drinks can vary. Some drinks contain about 11 grams of sugar per cup and others contain about 30 -40 grams of sugar. chemicals, food colorings, and food additives can be very destructive. Multiple research studies have shown the negative effects of these ingredients on the body.
Pepsico Gatorade and other power drinks might contain brominated vegetable oil (BVO). This is the same ingredient found in flame retardants that are put on children’s clothing and bedding. When used in flame retardants, research has found that it can build up in both the body and breast milk. Studies link that the buildup of BVO in the body can lead to neurological disorders, reduced fertility, hormonal changes, and advanced puberty.
Brominated vegetable oil has been linked to short term health 
problems, including cramping, blurred vision, skin rashes, watery eyes, nausea and vomiting and cyanosis (turning the skin a bluish color), heart lesions, memory loss, birth defects and inhibiting growth.
CAREFULY CHECK the labels of your soft drinks to makes sure they do not include brominated vegetable oil.
Which drinks are more likely to cause obesity?
All drinks high in sugar cause obesity when used in excess regardless of whether it’s natural, organic, or filled with refined sugars, chemicals, food colorings and food additives. Natural sugars found in fruits are better for us, but still contribute to obesity when over indulged. People who drink fruit juices and eat fruit all day long are more likely to have weight problems than those who choose to drink plenty of water and supplement the diet with a moderate amount of natural sugar foods and drinks.
Which drinks destroy tooth enamel?
Studies have revealed that the enamel damage caused by non-carbonated drinks, canned lemonade, canned teas, and sports drinks was three to eleven times greater than carbonated sodas. Energy drinks and bottled lemonades were shown to cause the most harm to dental enamel.
Which drink is the healthiest?
The best choice is to drink plenty of WATER. Read labels. Always choose healthy, raw, and natural, don’t overdo with daily sugar and organic acid intake. Practice dental hygiene. Try using a water pic. Brush and floss daily and get plenty of exercise. 🙂 ♥
Resources
Mayo Clinic – “Brominated Vegetable Oil: Why is BVO in My Drink?”
New York Times – “Drink Ingredient Gets a Look”
Web MD – “Energy Drinks: Bad for the Teeth?”
American Dental Association
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This article is written by Jean Voice Dart, M.S. Special Education from Illinois State University. Jean is a published author and has written hundreds of health articles as well as hosting a local television program, “Making Miracles Happen.” She is a Registered Music Therapist, Sound Therapist, and Master Level Energetic Teacher, and is the Executive Director, founder and Health and Wellness Educator of the Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance. The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a registered 501 (c) 3 nonprofit health and wellness education organization. For more information about the Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance contact us or visit our website at www.montereybayholistic.com.
Disclaimer: The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a charitable, independent registered nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and does not endorse any particular products or practices. We exist as an educational organization dedicated to providing free access to health education resources, products and services. Claims and statements herein are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The statements about organizations, practitioners, methods of treatment, and products listed on this website are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is intended for educational purposes only. The MBHA strongly recommends that you seek out your trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition.
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