Category Archives: fruit drinks

January 22, 2018 · 12:07 am

Drinking 100 percent fruit juice does not affect blood sugar levels – Study

I know that a lot of people have strong feelings about juices – both positive and negative. I am kind of agnostic. I like pineapple-orange juice and drink it regularly. Otherwise, I am not much into fruit juice.

Juice found to have no association with major diabetes risk factors

One hundred percent juice does not have a significant effect on fasting blood glucose, fasting blood insulin, or insulin resistance according to a new study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science. The findings are consistent with previous research indicating that 100% fruit juice is not associated with an increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and support a growing body of evidence that 100% fruit juice has no significant effect on glycemic control.

A comprehensive data analysis quantitatively assessed the relationship between drinking 100% juice and blood glucose control. Using fasting blood glucose and fasting blood insulin levels as biomarkers for diabetes risk, the systematic review and meta-analysis included 18 randomized controlled trials (RCT) to evaluate the impact of 100% juice from fruits, such as apple, berry, citrus, grape, and pomegranate.

According to The American Diabetes Association, about 90% of the 29 million cases of diabetes in adults and children in the United States are considered Type 2. Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body is unable to respond to insulin. The first line of defense for preventing and treating Type 2 Diabetes is following a healthy lifestyle. Eating right, exercising regularly and staying at a healthy weight are encouraged. U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend consumption of a healthy eating pattern which includes fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy and a variety of protein foods. A 4-oz. glass of 100 percent juice counts as one serving (1/2 cup) of fruit, and can complement whole fruit to help individuals add more produce to their diets. (my emphasis)

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The study entitled “100% Fruit juice and measures of glycemic control and insulin sensitivity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials” is available online. It was conducted by Exponent, Inc. on behalf of the Juice Products Association. The authors are Mary Murphy, MS, RD, Erin Barrett, PhD, Kara Bresnahan, PhD, MPH, and Leila Barraj, ScD of Exponent, Inc. For more information on the nutritional benefits of 100 percent fruit juice, please visit http://www.juicecentral.org.

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Filed under blood sugar, diabetes, fruit drinks, fruit juice, Type 2 diabetes

Tagged as blood sugar, diabetes, fruit juice, Type 2 diabetes

February 24, 2014 · 10:11 am

Soda Sabotages Your Diet

Regular readers know that I feel strongly about the damage sodas do to our bodies. So, I was pleased to see the item By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified on Lifescript, a website for women’s healthy living.

“Fifteen pounds in one year. That’s how much weight you could gain by drinking just one regular soda every day. Sodas have around 150 calories each and no nutritional value whatsoever. So they should definitely be classified in your book as a “once in awhile” treat, not an everyday indulgence. Not only is your waistline at risk if you have a soda obsession, but your health is too.”

That is a fact worth noting. Many folks indulge in ‘just one’ soda under the illusion it is harmless. It ain’t.

The item continued, “According to a Nurse’s Health Study of more than 50,000 women, those who had one or more sodas every day not only gained extra weight, they also raised their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 83%.”

Those are some compelling reasons to avoid soda. Strangely, the Lifescript piece concludes with the recommendation – “If you must indulge in a daily soda, try diluting your regular soda with diet soda and then moving over completely to the diet soda side. Or, fill up on water flavored with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It’s the best drink available for your body, and it’s free.”

I am totally behind the water and/or fruit juice suggestion, but diet soda?! No way, Jose. There is a good chance that diet soda is more damaging than the sugary kind. I had a friend who drank a lot of diet soda every day. One of his complaints was that he was “always hungry.” That is just one of the reasons to avoid these chemical concoctions. The ingredients in diet soda depress your satiety response and you can feel always hungry no matter how much you eat.

Please check out my Page – What’s Wrong with Soft Drinks? which gives chapter and verse on why you are well advised to avoid both.

Tony

Where Do I Find Hidden Sugar in My Diet?

Sugar, like other damaging white powders, salt, cocaine, can often be found in the most unlikely places. Locking down the top of your sugar bowl isn’t enough to save you from consuming too much of this sinful sweet.

WebMD has a super quiz that tests our “Sugar Smarts” which I recommend that you take as soon as possible.

“Soda, fruit drinks and juices, sports drinks, energy drinks, and other sugar-sweetened beverages are the No. 1 source of added sugar in American diets. (Emphasis mine) A recent study found that drinking one or two sugary drinks a day raises the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 26 percent compared with those who limit sweet drinks to just one a month.

“But sugar alone isn’t to blame for diabetes. Diets that are high in calories from any source, like sugar or fat, lead to weight gain — and being overweight raises your chance of Type 2 diabetes,” the quiz says in answer to its fifth question – where do added sugars hide? That’s all the spoilers I’m going to give you.

The American Heart Association recommends a total of six teaspoons of sugar a day for women and nine for men. In fact, Americans consume an average of 22 teaspoons a day. Those teaspoonsful have little nutritional value but load you up with empty calories. For more on empty calories, check out my Page – A Love Letter to Hostess Ho Ho’s – NOT.

Is it any wonder that 60 percent of us are overweight and 30 percent obese?

Please take the WebMD quiz and learn more about this very damaging ‘nutrient’ in our daily diet.

Tony