In the hot summer, I want to have a refreshing glass of iced juice from time to time, but is it safe to use juice instead of fruit and drinking water? Let’s hear what experts say. Can 01 fruit juice be drunk as water?

In the hot summer days

from time to time I want to

have a glass of refreshing iced juice

But is it reliable to use juice instead of fruit and drinking water

?

Listen to what experts say

01

Can fruit juice be drunk as water?

According to the national standard "Fruit and Vegetable Juices and Beverages" (GB/T 31121-2014), fruit and vegetable juices and beverages can be divided into three categories:

❶ Concentrated fruit and vegetable juice (slurry)

It is the physical method of using fruit and vegetable raw materials The produced fruit juice and vegetable juice are products that are concentrated to remove a certain amount of water.

The "concentration" process can retain the color, flavor and soluble solids of the original fruits and vegetables to the greatest extent.

represents: apple juice, blackcurrant juice, pineapple juice , tomato pulp, citrus juice, etc.

❷Fruit and vegetable juice (slurry)

is a fermentable but unfermented juice and slurry product made from fruits or vegetables using physical methods; or it is added back to the concentrated fruit and vegetable juice (slurry) that is removed during its processing Juice and serum products made by reconstituting equal amounts of water.

represents: freshly squeezed juice, 100% juice, and NFC juice (non-concentrated reduced juice) that can be directly canned after pasteurizing the juice of fruits and vegetables, etc.

❸Fruit and vegetable juice pulp drinks

are drinks made from concentrated fruit and vegetable juice and water. Such products usually add some substances, such as sugar and acid to meet flavor needs, or vitamin C and minerals to enhance nutrients, and some are inflated to adjust the taste.

Song Yi, associate professor at the School of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, said in an interview with a reporter from China Consumer News:

No matter how delicious the juice is, a truly healthy "beverage" that can replenish water and relieve summer heat is a must. It can only be plain water that contains no sugar or calories and can be directly absorbed by the human body.

Drinking juice as water or drinking juice instead of water for a long time is not conducive to the body's normal metabolism. Juice cannot replace boiled water, and drinking too much should not be done.

02

Can juice replace fruit?

cannot replace water. Can juice be consumed as an "upgraded" product of fruits and vegetables?

Song Yi explained:

The process of juicing fruits will lead to the loss of vitamins and other active ingredients, as well as the loss of some dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is also an essential nutrient for the human body, which can affect intestinal peristalsis and reduce toxic substances in the intestines. Therefore, it is not advisable to replace fruit with juice.

From a health perspective, studies have shown that when eating fruit directly, the chewing process allows the sugar to be slowly released and absorbed, and it takes about two hours from consumption to nutrient absorption. Compared with whole fruits, the time for nutrient absorption of freshly squeezed juice will be shortened to a quarter of an hour, and the stimulation of blood sugar index is relatively strong.

Therefore, when patients with diabetes or kidney disease choose the type of fruit and vegetable juices, they must make reasonable choices based on their nutritional needs.

03

How to store juice?

There are actually big differences in the nutritional content and taste of different processing methods and types of fruit and vegetable juices, and consumers can choose according to their needs. How to live in harmony with juices with different "characters", Song Yi recommends consumers to pay attention to the following details:

❶ Freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices should not be stored for too long, and it is recommended to drink them now. When stored for a long time before drinking, it should be sterilized.

❷ Fruit and vegetable juice drinks will indicate the content ratio of original juice. The higher the value of this ratio, the higher the content of original juice added. If you pay more attention to the "fruit content" of a juice drink than its taste, you should read the nutritional label carefully.

Some juices also add additional vitamins and minerals, which not only supplement the nutrients contained in natural fruits, but also provide additional nutritional needs for the human body.

❸ Correctly understand the difference between freshly squeezed juice and reconstituted juice. At present, the use of concentrated juice for reduction with water to produce pure juice is an internationally accepted and safe processing technology, which has many balanced advantages such as easy storage and transportation, reduced costs, and extended product shelf life.

NFC juice has the advantages of freshness and original flavor, but it has higher requirements for transportation, storage, and sales environment. It generally requires a full cold chain to inhibit the reproduction of microorganisms, and often has a short shelf life and a relatively low price. higher.

❹No matter what kind of fruit and vegetable juice, you should drink it as soon as possible after opening. If storage is required, it should be placed in the refrigerator compartment and consumed within 48 hours to avoid contamination by pathogenic microorganisms from causing harm to human health. If you need to go out or travel long distances, it is recommended to choose bottled juice, which is more portable and easy to store.

Reporter/Li Jian

Source: China Consumer News