Recently, a test commissioned by Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper from a nutrition institution showed that the sodium (salt content) in some packaged fruit and vegetable juices is high, which is not good for health. It is reported that the juices tested mainly included tomato juice and orange juice. The results found that the sodium content among different brands of juice varied by as much as 300 times, and many well-known brands had high sodium content. For example, a drink called "Golden Boy Tomato Juice" contains 320 mg of sodium per 100g, meaning that drinking one can (163ml) would intake 522 mg of sodium. Another American-made "V8" tomato juice has a sodium content of 350 mg per 100g, which means one can (340ml) contains 1190 mg of sodium.
Ms. Liu Yanqing, Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Consumer Council, pointed out that the high salt content in packaged fruit and vegetable juices may be related to their long shelf life. To extend the shelf life, products must add a certain amount of salt, so the detected salt content will be high.
According to the reporter's observation, the fruit and vegetable juices or drinks sold in major supermarkets in Guangzhou all clearly list their ingredients. Sodium salts that appear more frequently are sodium benzoate and sodium citrate. According to food experts, sodium benzoate is mostly used as a preservative in beverages to extend shelf life, while sodium citrate is an acidity regulator used to enhance the sour taste in food, adjust the pH value, or act as a buffer substance. These are all additives that can be used normally according to national standards.
Many 100% pure juices on the market have a shelf life of less than 20-30 days, and their ingredient labels mostly only list water and concentrated juice, such as Huiyuan, Wei Chun, and Dole. However, Mr. Juice Pure Juice adds sodium benzoate, and among fruit and vegetable juice drinks with a juice content of less than 20%, some brands add sodium citrate.
According to World Health Organization standards, adults should not consume more than 1600 mg of sodium per day on average. Drinking high-salt fruit and vegetable juices can easily lead to excessive salt intake, increasing the burden on the kidneys. Therefore, kidney patients and people with high blood pressure should be particularly careful. Nutritionists suggest that it is best not to drink these "healthy drinks" daily. Fresh vegetables should be the first choice. When it is necessary to drink packaged fruit and vegetable juices, pay attention to the ingredients listed on the package. In addition to the sodium content being "low rather than high," you should also pay attention to the sugar content. Juice without added sugar is healthier.
When choosing fruit and vegetable juice drinks, you should appropriately consider your health needs.
When choosing drinks for infants and young children, it is best to choose pure natural fruit and vegetable juices with high mineral and vitamin content.
For children, fruit and vegetable juice drinks are recommended, while carbonated drinks are not. Medical clinical research has shown that vitamin deficiency during the growth and development stage of children can affect growth, and the best way to increase vitamin intake is to drink fruit and vegetable juices. For children who do not like to eat vegetables, vitamins and minerals can be supplemented by drinking fruit and vegetable juices. It is worth emphasizing that the high and comprehensive vitamin content in tomatoes makes them the first among all vegetables, so tomato juice should be the best choice.
The first choice for the elderly is vegetable juice, and those with calcium are even better. The decline in the body's immunity due to vitamin deficiency has not received enough attention, so it is recommended that the elderly choose more vegetable juice and mixed fruit and vegetable juice to supplement vitamins in a timely manner.
Related link: Check the juice content before buying juice drinks
There are more and more fruit-flavored drinks on the market, but how much pure juice is actually in a bottle? It is not difficult to find that most drinks labeled "fruit juice beverage" only contain 10% juice, a small portion has only 5% juice, and the lowest bottle has only 2.5%. It can be calculated that in a bottle of fruit juice drink, the juice content is far less than water, sugar, colorings, and various additives, let alone finding a fruit juice drink with a juice content of not less than 50% (excluding pure juice).
According to relevant food experts, according to the national standard "Classification of Soft Drinks," a drink with a juice content of not less than 10% is called a fruit juice drink. In addition, according to the "General Standard for Food Labeling," the original juice content of fruit juice drinks and fruit wines must be indicated on the food label. Therefore, when you buy fruit juice drinks, please check the juice content on the label to see if it is really as advertised. In fact, the nutritional content of fruit juice drinks, even concentrated and reconstituted pure juices, is not as high as we imagine. Nutrition experts point out that when fruit is pressed into juice, the pulp and membrane are removed, and in this process, vitamin C is also greatly reduced.
Five types of vegetable juice are high in nutrition
Carrot Juice
Can increase people's appetite and immunity, significantly relieve ulcer symptoms, relieve conjunctivitis, and protect the visual system. Lactating mothers who drink more daily will have higher quality milk. Celery juice can be used as a diuretic and laxative, as well as a good medicine for lowering blood pressure. Because the roots and leaves of celery are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and P, it is especially suitable for people with vitamin deficiency.
Cabbage Juice
Can promote the recovery of hematopoietic function, resist vascular hardening, and has a good effect on preventing sugars from turning into fat and preventing cholesterol deposition. When gum infection causes periodontal disease, drinking a mixture of cabbage and carrot juice can have a cleaning effect on the mouth.
Cucumber Juice
Plays an important role in strengthening the heart and blood vessels, can regulate blood pressure, prevent excessive myocardial tension and arteriosclerosis, and can also calm the nervous system and enhance memory.
Tomato Juice
Contains a large amount of citric acid and malic acid, which is very beneficial to the body's metabolism, can promote gastric juice secretion, and strengthen the digestion of greasy food. The vitamin P in it has the effect of protecting blood vessels and preventing hypertension.