But it isn't the juice is it? It is the added sugar. Fruit juice with sugar is just the same or worse than a "real" Coke or the like. The same or more calories and loads of sugar. I don't think I have had more than one real Coke a year in more than 20 years and I avoid fruit juices loaded with sugar. Reading the labels for contents provides amazing insight into what one should do.

The next thing that annoys me is vegetable juices loaded with sodium. Regular V-8, regular tomato juice, etc. are loaded. Even light sodium juices have too much. I don't cook with salt or even have any in the house.

Best regards,

RA1

I wonder what the difference between whole fruit and juice is? Of course, juice with sugar added is entirely different than sugar free juice, but is there some other ingredient added that is a negative? Imagine taking a bowl of blueberries and eating them out of hand or crushing them and drinking them. What difference would that make? None that I can imagine.

I suspect it has to do with phytonutrient in the skins, much like grapes and red wine made red by the dark grape skins. White wines can be made from red grapes if the skins are immediatetly removed -- sometimes appearing with a 'blush'.

Also, juicing increases the concentration of sugars taken in as the fruit pulp/fiber is jettisoned.

As an aside, I suspect black currants and elderberries are also very beneficial. I've seen studies indicating that but do not recall details at this moment. The dark skin berries seem to be gangbusters in the antioxidant, anticancer, anti-whatever environment.

Maybe if I eat enough they will turn my septic system into a pool of rose water? I know, I know, I really need to eat roses for that.