Pure Juice Boosts Health, Not Weight

tidbits that tantalizeYou Can Drink This Stuff?

Parents concerned about giving their children 100% fruit juice can breath easy. A new study reports there is no association between drinking pure juices and weight gain. As a matter of fact, just the opposite appears to be true.

The study, presented at the annual convention of the Pediatric Academic Societies by researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine, analyzed the juice drinking habits of over 3,600 children between two and eleven. The scientists found no association between drinking 100% fruit juices and weight gain - or, being at risk for becoming overweight.

Surprisingly, they did find that 57% of the children drank no pure fruit juices at all. That's an astonishing figure and, though not explored within the study, does not speak well for the overall nutritional status of our children. However...

Among those who did in fact drink pure juices, the news was quite good. First, some basic figures. Children drink, on average, just over 4 ounces of juice each day. Even those at the high end of the consumption scale, drinking over 12 ounces each day, show no increased risk for weight gain. In fact, the heaviest drinkers among the 2 and 3-year-olds were almost three times less likely to be overweight than children who drink no juice.

Interestingly, children who drink 100% juices also eat healthier, consuming less total fat, sodium and sugars. They also have higher intakes of critical nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and iron. Hmm...

So, moms and dads of the world, take heart. Bust out the 100% pure juice and, though you'll have no mass media role models to lead the way, pour a glass for your kids. Then, sit back and enjoy - you may be surprised to find they actually enjoy drinking, well... real food.

To read more about the study, see this from Reuters. To read more about the health benefits of fruit juices, see this from fruitjuicefacts.org.