Is Apple Juice More Dangerous Than Soda?

Commentary on a forwarded post:

The discovery health report tells us that drinking fruit juice is worse than drinking a cola drink.  Why because it is loaded with HFCS, an artificial fructose (they use it because it is cheaper than natural sugar and actually contains more sugar than cola drink.  What does this mean?  You are more prone to ill effects attributed to sugar.  So beware.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Discovery Health Publishing <support@xfactorrevolution.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 9:16 PM
Subject: Is Apple Juice More Dangerous Than Soda?

Dear Jorge Saguinsin, Have a look at these numbers: A 12-ounce can of cola has 10 teaspoons of sugar and 145 calories. But 12-ounces of apple juice has 10 teaspoons of sugar and 165 calories. No, those numbers aren't wrong. You - and all of America - have been sold a bill of goods by the juice industry. Fruit juice isn't just as bad as soda.... it may actually be worse! Like soda, fruit juice is mostly sugar-water, with a little color and flavoring. Juice does contain some vitamins. But fruit juices are higher in calories - and often pack more sugar - than soda. In fact, grape juice has 50% more sugar than a typical can of cola. In other words, drinking 12 ounces of grape juice a day adds up to nearly 100 pounds of extra sugar a year. And that sugar is "fruit sugar" or fructose... public health enemy #1. When you eat an apple, you get a limited amount of fructose. And the effects of the fructose are softened by the fiber in the apple. But a glass of apple juice contains all the sugar from several apples all at once... without the healthy fiber. All that Fructose is More Than Just Empty Calories Spanish doctors put a group of volunteers on a high-fructose diet for just two weeks. Their blood pressure shot up. Their triglyceride (blood fat) levels went up. Their healthy HDL cholesterol levels dropped. Their bodies started pumping out insulin like crazy. And their livers went on high alert. In other words, these volunteers all developed metabolic syndrome, or "pre-diabetes." In just two weeks! But you don't have to wait two weeks for fructose to do some damage. Swiss scientists tested the immediate effects of a fructose drink on 15 healthy adults. Within minutes, the fructose drink caused an increase in their blood pressure and heart rate. That's what happens to your body when you drink "healthy" fruit juice. But it's not all that's happening. Fructose has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Unlike other sugars, fructose causes a rise in uric acid levels. And high uric acid is linked to gout. It also lowers your levels of nitric oxide (NO).3 And here's why that's particularly bad... NO helps maintain healthy blood flow by promoting more flexible arteries. So it's important for your heart... and your health in general. NO also helps your body keep your insulin levels under control. When your insulin levels stay too high for too long, you develop insulin resistance. You lose control of your blood sugar levels. In a word: diabetes. Not exactly the picture of a healthy drink, is it? What Do You Reach For When You're Thirsty? Does this mean you're better off drinking soda than fruit juice? Not at all. Remember, sodas are full of artificial sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup. But it DOES mean the juice industry's story of fruit juice as a healthy alternative to soda is bunk. Of course, you don't have to give on fruit...or its juice. Just follow these simple guidelines. When you're thirsty, old-fashioned water is still your best choice. If you want something with more flavor, try naturally decaffeinated green tea on ice. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, and may help lower cholesterol.4 To safely satisfy your sweet tooth, just add a little natural stevia to your tea. And if you want real fruit juice, either buy juice that still contains the pulp, and fiber, or try juicing some of your own at home. This will give you the chance to try vegetable juice as well. My personal favorite is kale mixed with sweet fruits like mango or pineapple. Wishing you strength and vitality, Jason Kennedy Perez-Pozo, S.F. et al, "Excessive fructose intake induces the features of metabolic syndrome in healthy adult men: role of uric acid in the hypertensive response," International Journal of Obesity. 2010; 34: 454-461. Brown, C.M., et al, "Fructose ingestion acutely elevates blood pressure in healthy young humans," Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. Mar 2008; 294(3): R730-737. Nakagawa, T., et al, "Hypothesis: fructose-induced hyperuricemia as a causal mechanism for the epidemic of the metabolic syndrome," Nat Clin Pract Nephrol. Dec 2005; 1(2): 80-86. Maron, D.J., et al, "Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of a Theaflavin-Enriched Green Tea Extract," Arch Intern Med. 2003; 163: Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1448-1453.1448-1453. © Copyright 2014 Discovery Health Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: The entire contents of this email are based upon research conducted by the author, unless otherwise noted. The publisher and the author present this information for educational purposes only. The information and material provided on this site are for educational purposes only and any recommendations are not intended to replace the advice of your physician. You are encouraged to seek advice from a competent medical professional regarding the applicability of any recommendations with regard to your symptoms or condition. It is important that you do not reduce, change or discontinue any medication or treatment without consulting your physician first. The information and recommendations provided on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are provided for educational purposes only. You are getting this e-mail because you subscribed to it on www.discoveryhealthpublishing.com or because you are one of Discovery Health Publishing's prospects or book buyers. Discovery Health Publishing 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd. #10A-315 Wellington, FL 33414

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