This guest article is written by Adrienne Nicole who writes natural health articles. She derives most of her research from natural health experts, like Dr. Joseph Mercola. She is currently researching on whole house water filtration system and its corresponding benefits and limitations.
Many people are under the impression that commercial fruit juice is healthy — regardless of its origin and sweet taste. Most fruit juices are no different than sugar water, because they contain very little or no real juice. If the product is labeled “fruit drink,” “fruit beverage,” or “fruit cocktail,” it means that it does not contain a hundred percent juice. On average, commercial fruit juices only contain only 10 percent fruit juice.
How Much Fructose Does Fruit Juice Have?
Of course, freshly squeezed juice is superior to commercial fruit juice, as it is a good source of vitamins and other nutrients. However, one glass of freshly squeezed orange juice has eight full teaspoons of sugar, which is 50 percent fructose.
What Can Fructose Do to Your Body?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is caused by a buildup of fat in liver cells– Fructose has the same effect on your liver as alcohol has.
Increased uric acid levels – Research states that fructose is the only type of sugar that has an effect on your uric acid levels. High levels of uric acid mean an increased risk for gout and lay the groundwork for chronic disease.
Obesity– A study by Dr. David Ludwig of Boston Children’s Hospital found that for each additional serving of a sweetened drink, the odds of obesity and body mass index rose.
Diabetes and heart disease – A 2009 study where 16 volunteers were fed a controlled diet with high amounts of fructose discovered that new fat cells formed around the heart, liver, and other digestive organs of participants after 10 weeks. Food-processing abnormalities linked to diabetes and heart disease were also found in these volunteers.