health TIPS TO GET THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF FRUIT No one questions that fruit is an essential part of the diet. But did you know that more than 70 percent of Americans do not eat the recommended amount of fruit? One hundred percent juice is a convenient way to help you get the important fruit nutrients you need. Juice doesn’t just taste good, it also fulfi lls an essential part of the daily diet. Nutritionist and registered dietitian, Diane Welland of the Juice Products Association provides information on what’s so good about juice. How does juice fi t into a healthy diet? Because the majority of Americans aren’t eating the recommended daily amount of whole fruit, they’re missing out on many important nutrients. Fruit juice is an easy way to make sure you’re getting key nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, ribofl avin and niacin. Some 100 percent juices are also fortifi ed with vitamin D and calcium. How much fruit juice should a person drink each day? Recommended serving sizes vary with a person’s age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 4 to 6 ounces of 100 percent fruit juice for children ages 1 to 6 and 8 to 12 ounces for those ages 7 to 18. As an alternative to whole fruit, the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans consider one-half cup of 100 percent fruit juice to be equal to one half cup of whole fruit. Does fruit juice contain sugar? There is no added sugar in 100 percent fruit juice - it contains only the natural sugars found in whole fruit. Does drinking juice contribute to weight gain? Fruit juice is defi nitely part of a healthy eating plan. New scientifi c studies show that juice drinkers have better quality diets than those who do not drink juice. Other studies indicate that children and adolescents can drink juice in appropriate amounts without gaining weight. “I recommend that parents follow the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, when it comes to serving sizes,” Welland says. Welland suggests adding fruit and fruit juice into your diet in subtle ways like incorporating juice into traditional recipes. Fruit juice can add new fl avors to any recipe from snacks like ice pops to savory dinners. For more information on the health benefi ts of 100 percent juice or to fi nd family friendly recipes made with juice, visit www.JuiceCentral.org. Courtesy BPT
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