The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reminds parents and pediatricians that 100% pure juice is indeed a healthy food when consumed in moderation; however, excessive intake can lead to adverse consequences such as diarrhea, gastrointestinal illnesses, malnutrition, and dental erosion.
When it comes to juice, parents often consider it a healthy food and believe the more their children drink, the better. In early May of this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that children should consume juice in moderation.
In the United States, children are the largest consumers of juice. Pure juice is rich in vitamin C and should be considered a healthy food. However, scientific research indicates that excessive consumption by children can lead to malnutrition, as drinking too much juice naturally reduces the intake of breast milk or formula.
Most juices lack protein, fat, minerals, fiber, and vitamins other than vitamin C, and instead contain large amounts of carbohydrates (sugar). If consumed in large quantities, this can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas in children. Therefore, juice does not provide true nutritional value.
Allowing children to carry bottles or cups and drink juice continuously throughout the day, even before bedtime, can erode teeth. Some fruit-flavored drinks are not 100% pure juice and contain added sweeteners, artificial flavors, and other chemical ingredients, which can have an even greater impact on children's health. For these reasons, the AAP makes the following recommendations:
◎Infants under 6 months of age should not be given juice;
◎For children over 6 months of age, juice should not be consumed from a bottle or cup, as it makes it easy to overconsume;
◎Infants should not be given juice before bedtime;
◎For children aged 1 to 6, the daily intake of juice should not exceed 4 to 6 ounces (approximately 113 to 170 grams);
◎For children aged 7 to 18, the daily intake of juice should not exceed 8 to 12 ounces (approximately 227 to 340 grams);
◎For children of all ages, eating whole fruits is better than drinking juice.