There’s nothing like making fresh raw vegetable or fruit juice at home with your own juicer. But let’s be honest, it takes time, energy and a commitment to keep up the routine at home. The availability and the variety of store-bought juice concoctions have absolutely exploded on the market and tempt us with convenience, fancy marketings and a bunch of healthy buzz words. Here’s the scoop on how tricky understanding juice labels can be at the grocery store and how to choose the best store bought juices for you and your family.
“100% Juice” Doesn’t Mean Anything
What does 100% juice really mean? Not much. Food companies are allowed to say 100% juice on the label even though their juice contains additional additives, flavorings or preservatives. In the case of V8, they add sodium (salt), flavoring, vitamin C and citric acid to preserve the juice for a longer shelf life. All of these added ingredients do nothing for your body and in some cases could harm you. This isn’t exactly a healthy dose of juice after considering the flavoring on the label could be made from petroleum that is often contaminated with carcinogens. Also, flavoring could have hidden MSG in it – which increases cravings and addiction (so food companies profit more). Companies that use flavoring won’t tell you exactly what’s in it either, they’ll say their formula is proprietary and keep you guessing.
“Concentrate” Is Just A Fancy Name for Syrup
Another way juice companies sabotage you, is by using shelf-stable juice concentrates instead of real juice. Juice concentrates are made from fruits and vegetables that are heated down to syrup and then have water added back in. The concentration process involves both adding in and subtracting chemicals and natural plant by-products in order to condense the juice. During the concentration process, fruits and vegetables lose flavor and this is one of the reasons why companies have to re-add “flavoring” to make the juice taste fresh.
The concentration allows juice companies to keep their juice shelf stable, preserved longer and allows them to save money during fruit processing. In other words, juice companies sell you an inferior product while making more money.
“Not From Concentrate” Could Be Flavored
What if the label explicitly states “not from concentrate.” Does that mean that the product has no added flavors? No. Actually, that’s a big fat no! When most commercially available orange juices are made, according to the book Squeezed: What You Don’t Know About Orange Juice, the juice is stored in giant tanks and the oxygen is removed from them, which allows the liquid to keep for up to a year without spoiling. This storage makes the orange juice lose mega flavor. So the industry uses “flavor packs” to re-flavor the juice. Even if your juice says “100% juice” or “premium” on the ingredient label, it can still have these flavor packs, because they are not required to be listed on the ingredient label because technically they are derived from orange essence or oil. Sneaky, huh? Ever wonder why store-bought juice can achieve that consistent “trademarked” taste, bottle after bottle? Now you know! (Please note: Uncle Matt’s is a brand that is 100% juice, not from concentrate that specifically does not use flavor packs.)
GMOs
Many juice companies use an ingredient called citric acid to extend the shelf life of their product. Most people would think this citric acid comes from, well, citrus like lemons, oranges and limes, but it doesn’t. The ingredients most food manufacturers use to create citric acid are genetically engineered corn and sugar beets, by synthetically fermenting the glucose from these crops in a laboratory.
Also, some juice companies go as far as adding sugar (that could be from GMO sugar beets), high fructose corn syrup (from GMO corn) and/or other ingredients that could contain GMOs. Tropicana, Ocean Spray and Minute Maid are huge offenders of this – so it’s no surprise they were some of the companies who gave millions of dollars recently in Washington to stop GMO labeling. They don’t want you to know their juices are full of GMOs.
Remember GMOs have never been tested long term on humans, and are linked to the rise in allergies, infertility and auto-immune disorders, not to mention they have increased the use of toxic pesticides in the environment by 500 million pounds.
It is absolutely critical we get GMO labeling in this country. We deserve the right to know what we are eating and the companies fighting against this basic fundamental right do not deserve our money.
Synthetic Ingredients
The sneakiest of ingredients that can show up in juice are in the form of synthetic ingredients that seem natural but are actually man-made and created in a laboratory.
Naked Juice (owned by Pepsi Co) was recently sued because they claimed their juices were 100% All Natural but really contain these synthetic ingredients:
- Fibersol-2 — a proprietary synthetic digestion-resistant fiber produced by Archer Daniels Midland and developed by a Japanese chemical company.
- Fructooligosaccharides — a synthetic fiber and sweetener.
- Inulin — an artificial and invisible fiber added to foods to artificially increase fiber content.
This example is just one of the reasons why it’s incredibly important to look at the ingredient list rather than the marketing lingo on the front of the label. (FYI – The Wall Street Journal just reported, Pepsi plans to drop the “All Natural” label on Naked Juice)
Also, make sure to watch out for other harmful ingredients like artificial food coloring. I was shocked to see that so many innocent looking juice brands use petroleum based dyes to color their juices, like Ocean Spray’s Red Ruby Grapefruit Juice.
Pasteurization
Here’s the real killer, no pun intended. Most juice companies use traditional pasteurization or flash pasteurization to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, molds, and other microorganisms to safeguard our health by heating the juice (this would be the second time your juice is heated if you are drinking juice from concentrate). But during this process, pasteurization also kills raw enzymes, minerals and vitamins – the reason that we are drinking the juice in the first place. Heat kills the bad stuff and good stuff, making the juice pretty much worthless to consume.
Juice companies sometimes even replenish the lost vitamin content with synthetic vitamins because there is barely any nutrition left after processing. In the book Pandora’s Lunchbox, Melanie Warner questions what happens during processing and determined “like vitamins, phytochemicals are being destroyed or removed in manufacturing and therefore aren’t particularly abundant in processed juices. Adding them back in wouldn’t work from a biological point of view, meaning they don’t function effectively when isolated from their natural fruit and vegetable habitat.” Furthermore, most companies create vitamins by chemical manipulation and synthesis, not from actual fruits and vegetables.
Choosing The Best Juice
So you must be wondering, are there any store-bought juices that are nutritious to drink? I created this chart below to help you navigate the juice aisles more clearly and choose the best store-bought juice. Thankfully, there are lots of options for us!
Organic
It is absolutely critical that you choose organic juice first and foremost. The amount of pesticides that you could be consuming could be astronomical otherwise. We know that increased exposure to pesticides is linked to birth defects, nerve damage and cancer. The President’s Cancer Panel has urged us not to consume food sprayed with pesticides and doesn’t believe any amount is safe.
Raw
In an ideal world, you would always be able to consume a juice raw straight out of a juicer. Enzymes, vitamins and minerals start to degrade over time, so timing is important. If your juice is fresh, it’s important to drink it as soon as possible.
Cold-Pressed
Cold-pressing is the most nutritious way to obtain juice. First, the produce is ground into a fine pulp. Then a press applies thousands of pounds of pressure to the pulp extracting every ounce of juice that the fruit or vegetable has to give. This process gets all the vital nutrients from the pulp into the juice. Cold-Pressed juices have a longer shelf life than centrifuge or slow juicers. Juice Press, Organic Avenue, and Luna’s Living Kitchen (One of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte!) all have raw organic cold-pressed juice available for purchase in their stores. Health food stores like Whole Foods sometimes makes their cold press juices in advance or carries brands like Suja, that are found in the refrigerator section.
HPP
The next best thing to raw in-store cold pressed juice is HPP or High Pressure Processing. This method retains food quality, maintains freshness, and extends microbiological shelf life without the addition of heat. After juices are bottled, a high level of cool pressure is applied evenly to destroy any pathogens and ensure the juice is safe to drink while preserving all of the vitamins, enzymes and nutrients. Grocery stores like Whole Foods likes selling HPP juices because they safeguard the consumer from foodborne illnesses more effectively than raw juices. Suja is a popular organic juice brand that uses HPP, but also cold-presses their juice (and gave money in support of GMO labeling – yeah!). Their Twelve Essentials is one of my favorites. They also recently developed a line called “Suja Elements” that is more like a smoothie. It’s the type of product you’d choose over Naked Juice, Odwalla, or Bolthouse Farms Smoothies – since all of those are traditionally pasteurized with heat and can contain additives. See this smoothie comparison chart below for details:
Finding Organic Pressed Juice Near You
My friend Max Goldberg created the world’s first Pressed Juice Directory, where you can find organic juice wherever you are. He created this directory because he (like me) tries to eat 100% organic whenever possible and wanted the ability to find quality juice on the road while he traveled. I can’t thank him enough for this amazing tool! It makes finding organic juice and traveling so much easier.
If you have any questions about choosing the best store-bought juice, let me know in the comments below.
Also, if you know someone in your life that is still drinking a juice that’s on the “worst” side of the chart above, please share this post with them. Spreading awareness about how our food is produced and which companies we should support will change the marketplace!
I’ve seen this with my own eyes 🙂
Food Babe
I appreciate the information of this post and the commitment you have made to exposing hidden dangers of the food industry. However I fail to understand what kind of harm vitamin C (even in its synthetic form) does to you body? Also , what harm do you claim does fructooligosaccharides and inulin do to the body? You are actually incorrect when you say that inulin is synthetic. (While I am not as versed as you in commercial juice production, maybe they make a synthetic form for juices, inulin is in fact, a natural fiber found in fruits and vegetables). I truly would appreciate a response with this information. Thank you
Don’t go personal here, alright! If you find anything that is not a fact, just point it out for everyone’s benefit. Since you could not find anything ‘generally’ wrong on the site, you are making a personal attack. By the way, what do YOU do for a living?
This is a very well written article supported by fact. Kudos to people like Vani who look out for consumers. ‘Not Impressed’ sounds like a troll from one of the big companies desperate to discredit well informed advocates.
Hi Food Babe,
LOVE your column!!! I’ve been a ‘don’t panic go organic’ person for many years, before the world organic was popular and GM was publically unknown. We juice our own from (mostly) local, (all) organic fruits & veggies and mostly cook from scratch. I’m older now and have the time to do it myself, but for really busy people or if I have to travel and want something truly healthy your column is a blessing!!! Thanks!
Where does Newman’s Own fall on the chart?
How about looking at the olive oil Industry? Is it really olive oil? Or is it cheap GMO in with 10% of the good stuff. The California olive oil council and theUniversity of California have the answer!
Chao food babe!
I agree, please investigate olive oil!
The thought never crossed my mind before, but you’re right! I would also love to know about the olive oil industry.
You need to try Project Fresh mad by a juice company out of New Haven. Best I’ve had! They use HPP! You can find it at Whole Foods in the Northeast.
Made by a juice company(Fresh Bev) out of New Haven, CT
I would like to see the response on th e inulin question as well. If you mean they use a synthetic inulin in the manufacture you should state it that way, as it is of course a natural occurring substance.
where can i find the best juice in my area zip 44485
thank you for the FINE WORK..you are doing! i have been investigating for years for the best org. food!
Google health food warren oh and you will find what you need. Call first to make sure they have produce and not just a vitamin store
THAN YOU! for the fine work you DOING! I BEEN INVESTIGATING FOR YRS. ORG…TRYING TO FIND THE BEST……WHERE CAN I FIND ORG…..IN MY AREA?
Just wanted to add to your friend’s directory. There’s a new juicing bar that opened up less than a month ago: Raw Juce, 2200 Glades Rd, Suite 403, Boca Raton, FL 33431.
Also, for your friends list: Healthy Home Market in Charlotte and Davidson, NC sell Suja juices.
Great! I just saw them too.
Love you food babe!!! you are making a difference and proving the food industry doesn’t give a crap about us. Glad to know your going after the big guns..I’m right behind you 100%. Women empowerment is powerful than any energy out there!! You are one hell of an inspiring energy girl!!! Love you 😉 Lynda
Love the Article, but was wondering about Hansen’s Juices. Don’t see it on the list…so curious as to where they stand. They claim to be 100% all Natural and Organic.
This is crazy. Now even 100% orange juice is not 100% oj. And Naked Juice contains fibersol-2…That ain’t naked! And I just drank a V-8 yesterday. Now I’m smacking my head saying, “I guess I shouldn’t have had a V-8!” I guess we will never really know what is in products, even if we do read the labels.
The only problem with this is…..I can’t seem to find anything close to where I live on his list. A lot more of us would buy everything organic if we could. The problem is…..we can’t. It is not available. Some of us are single mom’s who work full time careers and care for children alone with no help. We need to have more options available at our local stores. I buy everything I can organic..but sadly there is hardly anything to choose from. We need more choice. Not only in big cities or having to travel miles and miles to a remote location or paying a fortune to have stuff delivered. We just need to be able to get it at our local grocery. I am putting lots of pressure on ours here but I see little results. I sure hope we have more to choose from in the future. I’ll pay twice as much to feed my family safe healthy food but I just need to be able to find it! 🙂
Try the link she gives above to the pressed juice directory. Even though there is (sadly) no location close to where I live, there are apparently many locations that have overnight delivery services. I wonder how long the nutrients stay thriving?
Ditto, Linda. Living in Montana has its amenities. This isn’t one.
Hi, very timely article for me. I am going on a retreat for 3 days and will not have access to my juicer. Was thinking about getting some Bolthouse drinks, however that does not seem to be the best choice. I do have a Whole Foods near me and hope they Suja drinks. Am I correct in thinking that’s the best drink to get?
Thanks
Yes – totally. Enjoy, they are great.
Hi! And what about Whole Food’s own juices? (the ones at the entrance, which state are freshly made)
Thank you Food Babe!! 🙂
There is a $1.50 coupon available on Suja’s website 🙂 I love, love, love their products!
Suja is now sold at target in there food store . It is a few dollars. Heaped than whole foods
Have you done a study on vitamins? I just went out and got $260.00 worth of vitamins and hadn’t heard about your site until a week afterwards
I have Chronic Kidney Disease, Liver troubles, and MS. I have recently gone RAW.
Thanks,
Ms. Georgie Halpin
The best juice to buy is none at all, except as a treat. Fruit juice is pretty much just flavored sugar water, *EVEN IF IT’S FRESH SQUEEZED.* And that’s bad for you. Just think of it as junk food.
I disagree, fresh squeezed fruit juice is NOT junk food. It is the unsweetened juice from a piece of fruit. How is that junk? It offers antioxidants, nutrients, and some fiber, even protein (depending on the fruit). With all the REAL junk out there, why pick on fruit?
Hi Food Babe,
I love that you are an advocate for unearthing the industries tricks that keep everyone, even the most savvy consumers, confused about what they are eating. This juice info is solid and I love that you have provided some valid options so people continue to get the phytonutrients that are so vital to everyone’s health. You are probably familiar with the Juice Plus products that are whole food concentrates in capsules, or Complete meal powder. The fruits and veggies are grown with NO pesticides or chemicals and are tested to prove there are none in the final product. They are highly researched and proven in many institutions all over the world to still contain all the life-giving nutrients people need. See the research at freshwholefood.juiceplus.com to review for yourself. Juice plus has been proven to be a catalyst for change to better health practices, and gives people another valid option for great health. Just want more people to know about this amazing whole food option. You and your column are very much appreciated. Thanks for your good work.
What kind of juicer do you suggest to make your own? I’m going to ask for one for Christmas but have no idea where to start.
I just bought the Nutra Bullet and love it !
The Nutra Bullet isn’t a juicer, but a blender (or sorts) We have one as well. I prefer it over a juicer as it uses the whole veggie or fruit instead of leaving the pulp (good stuff) behind. Easier clean up also. I’ve droped 10 pounds the first 2 weeks of using it, so we must be doing something right.
I have always advised my clients to just give up juice. Mother Nature created the lovely taste of the orange to get us to ingest the fiber. So I always suggest eat an orange and drink a glass of water.
I love what you are sharing here about commercial juices. If I can’t juice it at home…I don’t bother. And don’t get me started on Tang…lol!
Hi Food Babe,
You did not mention R.W. Knudsen brand organic fruit juices in your chart?
Can you comment on their products? This brand is available in most health food stores and health food department of supermarkets.
Thank you
Nance from NJ
Thanks so much for this info. about juices. It has been really helpful. We have been drinking Odwalla juices. I’ll have to make sure I find some of their organic drinks. I appreciate that you let us know about Max Goldberg’s Pressed Juice Directory. It will save a lot of time. I’m not able to buy any of the juices where I live. I have looked into ordering them on line but it is way to expensive. I’m going to make a suggestion to our Community Food Co-op about carrying some. I received Jack LaLanne’s power juicer from my mother-in-law that she no longer uses, so I’m planning on putting that to use.
Thanks again for all the hard work, time and energy you put into researching and reporting on the foods we eat. Thanks for doing all the work, so we don’t have to.
HELP FOODBABE, I have been buying Honest Kids Juice for my kids lunches, because they are Organic. I can not find my answer through research…Do they contain GMO..PLEASE HELP
They do not contain GMO, they are certified organic.
I was wondering the same thing. I thought their label “organic”, meant all ingredients were just that…..organic.
Ya I was a little confused at first.. I understand that when the there is an organic label, it can not contain any GMO’s…I guess they just support not labeling GMO’s
organic does not equal non-gmo
Honest Kids is organic, and does not contain GMOs. However, their parent company is Coca-Cola, who spent the most money out of any company to block GMO labeling. So while the product itself is organic, purchasing this product puts money directly into the hands of the enemy. However, some of us don’t have any other organic options, and I buy Honest Kids for my family because it’s what is available where we live.
Same here it is available so I buy it. I will definitely try to find another source though..Thanks everyone for your comments and feedback.
Me no comprende? I was just at http://www.santacruzorganic.com and they are part of the non gmo’s project? The picture above adds Santa Cruz as a company who spent millions to keep gmo labelling off of products. Could someone at your office explain this!? Thanks!
That confused me as well….
Bummer. Green Goodness from Bolthouse was my fave. I only grabbed one every once in awhile, but I can probably pick apart the ingredients, using only natural ingredients and make it myself with a juicer (that I will buy myself for Christmas).
I have Honest Kids lemonade in my fridge and the bottle says they do not use any GMOs so is this a lie?
Honest Kids is organic, and does not contain GMOs. However, their parent company is Coca-Cola, who spent the most money out of any company to block GMO labeling. So while the product itself is organic, purchasing this product puts money directly into the hands of the enemy. However, some of us don’t have any other organic options, and I buy Honest Kids for my family because it’s what is available where we live.
While Suja is being promoted for using HPP, Blueprint is being sued for using the same method and falsely calling it “raw”.
How does a “raw” juice stay fresh for 30 days and more? How does pascalization choose which bacteria to kill (good vs bad)? If there was any life left in that juice after the process, it would spoil within 7 days even if kept refrigerated.
Should I be drinking a 30 day old “raw” juice?
http://www.bevnet.com/news/2013/lawsuit-claims-blueprint-juices-are-neither-raw-nor-unpasteurized
Great point about HPP. I don’t understand how it does not kill enzymes and how it can be called ‘raw’. I would recommend sticking with cold pressed raw juices that are not HPP and understand that a 3 day shelf life is fine. If you have research showing specifics about HPP then I would love to see it. It just doesn’t make sense. Who wants to drink 30 day old ‘raw’ juice? Some HPP juices say they are good for 54 days! no thanks.
I saw that some brands of Trader Joes juice is on the ok list. Is the Organic Orange and Banana on that list? My husband lives off of OJ every morning and won’t use the juicer that I bought for OJ, so I buy him this juice. I know you don’t love Trader Joes, but I stay away from everything thats not organic, for the most part.
Thank you Vani for this post !!! I thought I was doing so good drinking POM !!!
Check your facts… Inulin is a naturally-occuring soluble fiber, found in bananas, chicory, and garlic, among many others. It is a prebiotic and is beneficial to diabetics. It is not necessarily artificially made.
I enjoy reading your blogs and appreciate your investigations. Its making me make smarter, healthier choices.
I recently came across a brand of fresh raw juice in NYC called The Squeeze. Delicious cold pressed juices.
My only issue with brands like Suja, The Squeeze and Blue Print is the PRICE. My kids love orange juice and unfortunately the NAKED brand Green Juice. I haven’t found an alternative yet for the morning juice that comes in a decent size container and at a price point that is acceptable to afford all the time. I feel like its a huge treat when I buy the favored brands (Suja, etc) at $9.50 for a single serving bottle. I cringe at the price. I hope that they can make these more economical so that we can make healthy choices that aren’t influenced by our wallets. And, somehow they can make them in larger volumes so you can support a family drinking them.
I, too, am curious about your statement concerning Inulin. — After hearing you advise that SweetLeaf was the best brand for Stevia I was relieved. — I had already chosen that brand name as it was the only one that I had found having one ingredient (or sweetner) other than Stevia Leaf Extract–that being Inulin Soluable Vegetable Fiber. — Could it be that a product stating that it contains Inulin Is not the same as Inulin Soluable Vegetable Fiber? (And what about Organic Agave Inulin)? Thanks!!!
Thank you so much for what you do trying to make the world a better place you are so inspiring . Keep it up I was just wondering what is your opinion about SOY. thanks
I was tickled to see Uncle Matt’s on the list of good juices. I’m addicted to grapefruit juice, and although I know that fructose is really not healthy, I allow myself two servings a day of Uncle Matt’s. I buy ONLY organic, non-GMO foods (we have a MOM’s Organic Market near us, which makes it convenient). I appreciate the work you are doing in trying to educate folks as to what is healthy and what is toxic. You are so correct in reminding people that they MUST read the entire label… not just the hype in bold type! Keep it up!
Why is Zico in the Worst List?
This is from one of Vani’s posts:
“In a few versions of Coca-Cola’s product Zico – a coconut water – they have to use natural flavors to cover up the fact that they are getting coconuts from all over the world, that taste different, which they then process into “concentrate.” The coconut water is heated down to syrup and then reconstituted with water. To keep the flavor consistent – they have to add back in natural flavors and what you end up with is an inferior product that is a mix of several different species of coconuts that have lost their original integrity, taste and nutrition.”
Read it here: https://foodbabe.com/2013/01/25/coca-colas-low-calorie-beverages-will-kill-you-before-they-solve-obesity/
Thank you! I saw that they use natural flavors and citric acid in their mango and chocolate flavors, but I haven’t seen it in their regular plain coconut water (was it not labeled?). So, is there any danger in the plain coconut water (other than buying a Coca Cola product)?
I know Harmless Harvest is much better, but it’s also twice as expensive as Zico (especially if you’re buying it in bulk which I do). Are there any other better and more affordable recommendations?
Also, what about organic juice concentrate? I’ve been taking tart cherry juice to help me sleep at night sometimes rather than taking sleeping pills or melatonin. Organic tart cherry juice is difficult to find; I found one that was organic, but it was concentrate (I have to mix it with water) and that’s the only ingredient (i.e., Certified organic tart cherry juice concentrate.) Is that OK?
Very informative! I’m learning so much from reading your articles. I’m not a big juice fan (would rather juice my own), but my kids and husband are. Thank you again for making me aware of what is in these juices.
I’m glad you enjoyed the article Jan! I hope you share it with your family!
I just wanted to comment that I received a great response from the company who makes the Santa Cruz Organics (JM Smucker). I think that saying that these companies fought against GMO labeling should be retracted or at least investigated and understood. They are not fighting all labels, they are fighting how labels are regulated: “The J.M. Smucker Company believes that labeling regulations should be set at the national level, not state-by-state. State-based laws would require companies to label products differently in each state, which could lead to multiple labels, packages, inventories and possibly even separate distribution networks. All of which would increase the price consumers pay for food products.”
I agree with those thoughts and don’t feel that these companies who are trying to do good should be lumped in with those trying not get away with things, or not care at all. It is kind of like saying being pro-choice is for killing babies. Not the same at all. State to state regulations don’t make sense. National ones do!
Then they should just print all their labels the same, based on the highest standards. They don’t have to make separate labels.
Same goes for Odwalla. They wrote back too.
Asking for National regulations, not state to state regulations. Make sense.
Also, pardon my mistype above. “…those trying to get away with things”…
I’d like to know why Honest Kids paid against gmo labeling if there certified organic. I thought I was doing I good thing giving these to my kids.
Honest Kids is organic, and does not contain GMOs. However, their parent company is Coca-Cola, who spent the most money out of any company to block GMO labeling. So while the product itself is organic, purchasing this product puts money directly into the hands of the enemy. However, some of us don’t have any other organic options, and I buy Honest Kids for my family because it’s what is available where we live.
Food Babe,
Suja juice is $9 for a small bottle in our local Whole Foods and, in your green juice post, I realised that all those veg would last me easily a week if I didn’t juice them. And all organic? How does anyone afford to juice? I really want to get on board, but I can’t imagine going through so much organic veg so quickly… Help! 🙁
PS: thank you for everything you do. I share all your posts and really trust your research. 🙂
Yay! So glad to see Garden of Flavor juices prominently featured on Max’s Pressed Juices site for Ohio! I was so fortunate to speak to one of their representatives when he was showcasing their juices at my favorite grocer. In fact, I’m doing one of their juice cleanses today. (And I love it especially because it’s an Ohio company!)
http://pressedjuicedirectory.com/ohio/
Newman’s Own, where does that come in on the chart?
Max goldberg’s email sign-up for notifications does not work.
I have been following your site for a year now, as well as other sites that you link to that are similar. I have always eaten healthy but have gone to the next level of eliminating (as best I can) processed foods from my household. I have been an habitual OJ drinker all my life….a glass a day keeps the doctor away, and I am so disappointed to hear this. I live in rural east Arkansas and don’t have access to much around here in the way of “real food”. Do you know of a good juice I could purchase online??? Thanks for all you do Food Babe!!!!
Do you know much about Martinelli’s juice?
Hi food babe! Love your posts, I have become an avid followed and shared your information with many family and friends. I think you are a contributor to what I hope is a strong national movement, we’ve got a long way to go but what you’re sharing is so valuable!! Keep it up.
Anyways, what about evolution juice?? I travel often and this is available at starbucks. I didn’t see this one mentioned.
Thanks again!
Although Suja tastes pretty good their juices have too much sugar and are too sweet for me and I don’t care for the Evolution Fresh juice. I prefer either Blueprint’s or Garden of Flavor’ green juices as they are not overly sweet. As for the other “juices”, you may as well be drinking soda and taking a Flintsotne’s vitamin.
The biggest con of “100% juice” is the type of juice. Even if the name says “grapefruit cocktail” or “pomegranate cooler” you may see the cheaper apple juice (or white grape juice) as the main ingredient. So yoy may not get much of the juice you wanted. Plus over 50% of apple juice used in the US comes from China, a country with significant problems with food alliteration.
Thoughts about Nature’s Promise organic vegetable juice?
http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/9/1/23 Website that confirm synthetic inulin. And as we all know synthetic is cheaper than the real stuff:)
My my how tricky those labels are. If something says “100% juice” on it I suppose the average person would assume that 100% of it is juice. On the contrary, I guess what they mean is that something somewhere along the line that was 100% juice was added to it.