The Dietetics Department from SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP) shares the pros and cons of juicing.
You can enjoy a glass of your favourite juice, while fulfilling your daily nutritional requirements of fruits and vegetables, for just a few dollars. Seems to be win-win from a health standpoint, but is it?
“Fresh juices contain vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals (phytonutrients) that are good for you, but the quantities are
likely to be lower as compared to whole fruits and vegetables.
Whole fruits and vegetables also have a much higher fibre content, which makes them a healthier choice,” says Ms Alyssa Chan, Dietitian,
SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP), a member of the
SingHealth group.
Whole fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of fibre ,which is lost when the skin and pulp are discarded during the juicing process. Some vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients are also lost for this reason.
Fibre, which is a key element in digestive health, can help prevent a variety of health conditions such as constipation, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer. There are two types of fibre – soluble and insoluble. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of soluble fibre.
4 Benefits of fresh juice
Convenient way to consume fruits and vegetables alone, or in combination.
Tasty way to enjoy fruits and vegetables that you would otherwise not have.
You are likely to consume larger quantities of fruits and vegetables in juice form than in whole form, which can help meet your daily nutritional needs for these foods.
Drinking juice is easy on the gut.
4 Disadvantages of drinking fresh juice
Not as filling as whole foods because of the lack of fibre.
Fruit juice can be high in sugar calories.
Fresh juice that is not consumed immediately can develop bacteria and cause food poisoning.
Juicing requires a high level of hygiene. Bacteria can easily grow in an unclean juicer and cause food poisoning.
“Bacteria and other pathogens can also grow in fresh juice that is left to stand for a few hours. These can harm your health,” says Ms Chan.
What is the recommended daily intake of fresh juice for adults and children?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children below the age of six consume about 120-180ml of 100 per cent juice per day, and those aged seven to 18 years, about 240-360ml of juice each day.
“If children drink more than the recommended servings of juice, it may affect their consumption of milk, which they need for building bones. It can also cause an excess in sugar calories, which can lead to obesity,” says Ms Chan.
For adults, 250ml of juice, whether pure fruit, pure vegetable or mixed, is the recommended quantity per day. Consuming more than this can cause an imbalance in nutrients, which can lead to health conditions such as obesity and diabetes. Fresh juice should always be consumed as part of a balanced diet that includes protein, good fats, fibre-rich vegetables and fruits, carbohydrates and low-fat dairy products.
Is fresh juice safe for pregnant women and the elderly?
Pregnant women are advised to avoid fresh juice because of the fear of food poisoning from bacterial infection. However, they can consume fresh juice from a highly-trusted source, occasionally.
“Any bacterial infection from contaminated juice can harm the mother and the unborn baby,” says Ms Chan.
Pregnant women should also avoid excess consumption of orange juice which has strong acids and can cause tooth damage. High amounts of vitamin C can cause heartburn or gastrointestinal discomfort in pregnant women.
The elderly, who have a weakened immune system, should be careful to consume fresh juice only from a highly-trusted source. They can consume one serving of fresh juice each day, preferably a combination of fruits and vegetables to avoid excess sugar, which can contribute to increased risk of diabetes, or raise levels of blood sugar in a diabetic patient. Apples, cranberries, blueberries, beetroot, carrot, spinach are nutritious sources of fresh juice for older people.
Read the next page to find out the different
myths and facts about juice cleanses and fresh juices.
Ref: Q15
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