Fruit Juices: Don't Let the "Pure" Label Fool You

Can you believe anything big corporations tell you these days…especially if it has to do with healthy, natural food? Recent media attention is shining a harsh light on the use of “pure” to describe beverages such as mass-produced, big-brand orange juices like Minute Maid, Tropicana, Simply Orange, and Florida’s Natural.

It is probably not news to you that the processing part of these manufactured drinks removes most of the essential, healthy elements of the juice; however, did you know that the companies add artificial flavoring back into juice that has been de-oxygenated and stored for up to a year?

Year-old juice with artificial flavor is not my idea of pure. If you really want orange juice, consider making it yourself – it isn’t that hard, takes about a minute, and ultimately it is cheaper than buying cartons of low-quality orange drink. You can use an inexpensive manual juicer or splurge for an automated version. If you have a high-powered blender that will pulverize the seeds, you can peel and blend whole oranges for a whole juice experience.

Alternatively, you can get your orange fix, complete with fiber, by tearing into a whole juicy orange and benefit from the truly pure health properties it provides.

Adapted with permission from World’s Healthiest News by Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD. Subscribe to my free e-newsletter World’s Healthiest News for more health tips, news, and recipes.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lauren T.

6:03AM PST on Feb 6, 2012

Good to know, looks like I'm going to make my own juice!

send a green star

Despina V.

6:43AM PST on Jan 28, 2012

Totally agree

Rudolf A.

10:46AM PST on Jan 22, 2012

If you want pure fruit juice, you will have to buy the fair trade fruit and squeeze it yourself. Best of all - of course - is to grow fruit native to your own country and squeeze that. I live in England, and you can grow plenty of delicious fruits in your own garden or on the allotment that have zero air miles attached.

iii q.

11:14AM PST on Jan 21, 2012

Chad A.

1:43AM PST on Jan 17, 2012

I am sorry to say, but the free market does not cover honesty. The watchword is buyer beware. If you want to be able to count on standrds, they have to be regulated...

Lika S.

12:07AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

Sorry, I'm too lazy to make my own juice. I just peel the orange and eat it, and it saves me the trouble of having to dig out the juicer, transfer to another container, rinsing out the juicer, putting it away...

anyway, people actually think I'm about 8 years younger than I really am.

Sheri L.

4:12AM PST on Jan 15, 2012

yuck I'm going to invest in a juicer !!!

Rose B.

7:30AM PST on Jan 13, 2012

Most of these commercial orange juices taste like old rotten oranges. YUCK!

Kim S.

7:20AM PST on Jan 13, 2012

Great information. Thanks.

Kerry S.

6:59AM PST on Jan 13, 2012

I love oranges,and actual orange juice.