How to Choose Juice
Step 1: Check the Concentration: High Concentration, Good Nutrition
Juice drinks will state their concentration on the label. Currently, there are roughly four types of juice drinks on the market: 10%, 30%, 50%, and 100%, with the majority being 10%. Taking a 380ml juice drink with 10% concentration as an example, its actual fruit juice content is only 10%, a mere 38ml. The rest is water and food additives, so its value as "juice" is questionable. In some countries with more mature juice industries, drinks containing only 10% real juice cannot even be called juice drinks; only when the content reaches 30% is the use of the term "juice drink" permitted. Therefore, some people joke that some people aren't drinking juice at all, but rather sweetener-colored water.
Step 2: Check the Origin: Good Juice is Grown
As the saying goes, "An orange tree south of the Huai River bears oranges, while one north of it bears bitter oranges." Naturally, juice made from fruit from good regions is much better than ordinary juice. When the taste is good, there is no need to add excessive food additives.
If the juice ingredients come from a good origin, manufacturers are usually willing to state this clearly on the bottle label. For example, Nongfu Spring indicates that its tomatoes and carrots come from Xinjiang, and its oranges come from Brazil and Anyuan, Jiangxi. Consumers should pay close attention when making their choices.
Step 3: Check for Sediment: Sediment, Good Juice
Juice with sediment indicates that the manufacturer has retained the dietary fiber from the fruit during the production process, which is very beneficial to the human body. Therefore, juice with sediment is generally more suitable for consumption than juice without sediment and requires "shaking before drinking."
Secondly, the pulp content in some juice drinks does not settle and remains evenly suspended no matter how long it is left. This defies common sense and may be due to the addition of certain unknown food additives. As for its safety, that remains to be verified.
Step 4: Check the Color: The Richer, the More Natural
In the supermarket, some juices are brightly colored and clear, looking very attractive; others appear less transparent, looking rich, and even a bit dull.
It is normal for freshly produced juice to have a bright color, but juice that remains brightly colored after a long time is not necessarily good juice.
When you cut a fresh apple, a rusty-colored layer will appear on its surface immediately. This is because fruit is prone to oxidation. Over time, its color will naturally change. The same is true for juice; as it is stored, its color becomes richer and more textured, with a decrease in transparency and brightness. Juice that does not change color even after a long time may have added color preservatives and preservatives, so consumers should be cautious when drinking it.
Those juices that look a bit dull on the shelf are actually good juice!
Step 5: Check the Ingredients: Good Ingredients, Good Health
The labels of juice drinks always list the ingredients. At this point, consumers should examine these ingredients carefully.
Common harmful or controversial ingredients in juice drinks include: preservatives, color preservatives, sodium某某, etc.