Smoothies and fruit juices are a new risk to health, US scientists warn

Dear ATS,

This got posted yesterday on The Guardian and I was wondering your thoughts.

Smoothies and fruit juices are..

You see, I live somewhere beautiful in the Western U.S... and for the last month I have been organizing the setup of an organic, non-gmo Juice & Smoothie Bar, right in the center of town. I do not wish to publicly state the name of my business here, but if you want to know, or get a link to the website, Facebook, Twitter, etc. please PM me.

I'm quite young, never started a business before, but I'm completely confident I can handle it.

What do you have to say about the article? What's your take? Any suggestions for my recipes?

I just want to make healthy, happy food.

Let's just hope I have time to prosper here before economic collapse, or invasion...

-AA

reply to post by AsarAlubat


Too much sugar is certainly a bad thing, however 100% fruit juice is naturally sweetened. By 100% fruit juice, I am speaking of making your own juice with fruit and a juicer. This is just another attempt at scaring ignorant people into NOT eating/drinking something healthy. These are the same people that say fluoride is good for you, and these are the same people that say there is no evidence that GMO is bad for you. All I'm saying is... consider the source.

Well i don't know much about the smoothy world but in my local super market when ever am passing the smooth stand it's always full ALWAYS!!!. So if you do it right you can make a lot of money. But over time the sugar debate on smooths is that their is a lot of in them...

Originally posted by OptimusSubprime
reply to post by AsarAlubat

 

Too much sugar is certainly a bad thing, however 100% fruit juice is naturally sweetened. By 100% fruit juice, I am speaking of making your own juice with fruit and a juicer. This is just another attempt at scaring ignorant people into NOT eating/drinking something healthy. These are the same people that say fluoride is good for you, and these are the same people that say there is no evidence that GMO is bad for you. All I'm saying is... consider the source.

That's the plan- 100% fruit juices (smoothies, snacks, other bev.)- made from organic produce (local if possible).

Hopefully they don't scare everyone away from a trend that can really turn your health and lifestyle around.

Thanks for your contribution.

-AA

i think people need to actually read what professor popkin is stating

reply to post by coolcatt


I feel like it will be very profitable- but my products will come before cost always, to ensure for not only myself, but everyone who stops by a nutritious, light meal. Without any pesticides or science projects, I can assure I'm only spreading good health, and happiness.

I'll will keep in mind the sugar aspect, but most smoothies will have no added sugar anyhow.

Cheers!

-AA

reply to post by ignorant_ape

"Smoothies and fruit juice are the new danger," said Popkin, a distinguished professor at the department of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, in an interview with the Guardian. He added: "It's kind of the next step in the evolution of the battle. And it's a really big part of it because in every country they've been replacing soft drinks with fruit juice and smoothies as the new healthy beverage. So you will find that Coke and Pepsi have bought dozens [of fruit juice companies] around the globe."

So basically in a nutshell, what we should watch out for, is if you buy a juice, or smoothie (not from a business like mine, but from a company bought out by Coke or Pepsi) there will be a lot of bad sugar?

Nine years ago the two scientists had identified sugar-sweetened soft drinks, full of calories and consumed between meals, as a major cause of soaring obesity in developed countries. But they argue that as people change their drinking habits to avoid carbonated soft drinks, the potential damage from naturally occurring fructose in fruit juices and smoothies is being overlooked.

But watch out for that naturally occurring fructose too?

-AA

Good Luck in your new business ! I couldn't help but notice that Pepsi and Coke seem to be jumping on this band wagon, so take it with a grain of salt ! Fruit does contain sugar, so like anything else, moderation. Eating whole fruits does give you fiber, so maybe include some chunks of whole fruit in your smoothies? Looks pretty too..

Helpful hint for parents : Don't put babies to sleep with bottles of fruit juice, bad for their little teeth. After eating fruit or drinking fruit drinks, brush or rinse your mouth with water....

It seems as though the article was pointing more towards the imaginary feel-good think you're being healthy smoothy as opposed to the real smoothy, which is simply real fruit that is reduced to a liquid smoothy. Tropicana and stuff like that is mainly concentrate as the article states, and not a real smoothy. They didn't name the brand "Naked" in there which I do believe is actually more of a real smoothie.

Your business should be fine, as it makes real smoothies.

The article did not distinguish the difference between real smoothies and fake smoothies though, which is pretty bogus.

Originally posted by MountainLaurel
Good Luck in your new business ! I couldn't help but notice that Pepsi and Coke seem to be jumping on this band wagon, so take it with a grain of salt ! Fruit does contain sugar, so like anything else, moderation. Eating whole fruits does give you fiber, so maybe include some chunks of whole fruit in your smoothies? Looks pretty too..

Helpful hint for parents : Don't put babies to sleep with bottles of fruit juice, bad for their little teeth. After eating fruit or drinking fruit drinks, brush or rinse your mouth with water....

Good advice, thanks for your contribution!

From your post, I got the impression you believe whole fruits have more fiber content (opposed to blended fruit I assume?). Could you please provide a source (if you have one) that says eating whole fruits gives you more fiber? I'm not dissing your idea, in fact, most of our "for here" smoothies come with a fruit kebab laid across the top of the glass, and some wedges on the edge.

Looks pretty too..

Agreed

It's because of the citrus/acid in fruits that can promote tooth decay correct? Yes, let's all make sure we brush well after eating fruits (babys and adults alike).

-AA

One for your menu :

One avocado, milk, some vanilla ice cream and sugar. Delicious.

reply to post by b3l13v3

The article did not distinguish the difference between real smoothies and fake smoothies though, which is pretty bogus.

Agreed, they really could've used that paragraph. Wouldn't you say that's one of the .. corner pieces, per say?

Originally posted by OptimusSubprime
reply to post by AsarAlubat

 

All I'm saying is... consider the source.

I guess that's my answer.

reply to post by Trueman

some vanilla ice cream and sugar

Gotta limit these ingredients

Sounds delicious though; Avocado is a great smoothie fruit. Maybe not for the chunks on the rim of the glass...

Originally posted by AsarAlubat
Could you please provide a source (if you have one) that says eating whole fruits gives you more fiber? I'm not dissing your idea, in fact, most of our "for here" smoothies come with a fruit kebab laid across the top of the glass, and some wedges on the edge.

I guess I'm a idiot. I thought tossing some whole fruit and ice into a blender with a smidge of water was a smoothie/fruit drink?

It would have all the fiber and vitamin content as when it was whole, wouldn't it? It make for great popsicles as well.

reply to post by AsarAlubat


I don't know who all these "scientists" are,but they usually work for the government trying to keep everyone unhealthy .
People who know the truth ,do not pay attention to such articles .

reply to post by ignorant_ape


Naturally occurring fructose from juice ,if you drink one ,is not a danger .
Diabetics can even have a small amount .
Dr popkin probably had his ass handed to him for exposing the HFCS issue,and is making amends to the people with the money ,so some.....reason .
Just a guess .

If his statements here are true,then this means all the juices with hfcs are what's good for us now ?
I mean which is it .

reply to post by AsarAlubat


This is medically proven.
When on a diet from a nutritionist ,they tell you not to drink juices IN LIEU of eating fruit .
Like instead of eating and orange or apple ,you have a glass of juice .
Its obvious an orange and an apple,have more mass than just their juice ,so they have more fiber right there .
It takes more calories to burn a whole fruit ,as it does to digest juice.
This is the rational .

Juices are not a substitute for a whole fruit ,in a diet setting ,but how many times have you been at the gym,and gone to the juice bar after your work out ?
To replenish lost calories and fluids.

What I got from the article was similar to my own beliefs: Processed foods/juices often are erroneously though to be healthy.

Much of the juices I consume are squeezed from fruits, including fresh-squeezed noni. I'm not above making an occasional mango/papaya/rum/coconut smoothie. Good things in moderation. None of the fruits or vegetables I consume are going to "cure" much of anything. My body was evolved to assimilate various nutrients, and those that are closer to the vine (and not GMO) are better. In my opinion.

So far, so good.

reply to post by TDawgRex

I thought tossing some whole fruit and ice into a blender with a smidge of water was a smoothie/fruit drink?

I'd say you're correct. We will sell smoothies (and green smoothies, basically adding vegetables to the definition; when I say smoothies, I mean both).

It would have all the fiber and vitamin content as when it was whole, wouldn't it?

I'd say you're correct, however MountainLaurel seemed to suggest that blended fruit lost some fiber content (unless I was mistaken!) so I was asking if she had evidence to back her claim.

It make for great popsicles as well.

Hadn't thought of that one! Perhaps those will be available in the summer.. Great contribution, thanks!

Originally posted by PtolemyII
reply to post by AsarAlubat

 

Its obvious an orange and an apple,have more mass than just their juice ,so they have more fiber right there .
It takes more calories to burn a whole fruit ,as it does to digest juice.
This is the rational

I was not aware of this... but it is plausible! Makes sense, and proven. I feel like a dummy.