Current:Home > StocksIs apple juice good for you? 'Applejuiceification' is the internet's latest controversy. -Achieve Wealth Network
Is apple juice good for you? 'Applejuiceification' is the internet's latest controversy.
View
Date:2025-04-18 03:33:39
The latest topic of viral online discourse might surprise you: It's apple juice.
X, formerly known as Twitter, user @echetus posted a thread on Monday, highlighting what they dubbed "applejuiceification and the illusion of choice." In other words, many varieties of juices sold at the grocery store contain a majority of apple juice, even if they're labeled as other flavors including "guava and lime," "pink dragon fruit and lychee" and "kiwi and cucumber."
While apple juice may not be what you think you're signing up for with a drink like that, does its inclusion have any health indications? Here's what experts say about the nutritional value of apple juice.
Is apple juice good for you?
The grocery aisle may offer you a slew of choices when it comes to apple juice. Depending on which kind you pick up, you'll likely benefit from adding some carbohydrates to your diet, as well as nutrients including vitamin C.
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C for adults range from 75 to 90 milligrams. Most apple juice brands offer an entire day's worth of vitamin C in one serving.
Vitamin C offers a slew of potential benefits including lessening common cold symptoms, promoting heart health and making collagen, an essential protein in making the body's connective tissue, research has shown.
Apple juice can also help keep you hydrated, thanks to its "high water content, electrolytes and natural sugars," registered dietitian Abbey Sharp tells USA TODAY.
Why does apple juice have so much sugar?
Sharp notes that some apple juice brands found at the grocery store may have a high sugar content due to added sugars to "enhance flavor." They also contain natural sugars from the apple.
Best apples to eat?Healthiest types from green to red and everything in between
The main difference between eating a piece of fruit and drinking fruit juice is that the latter usually removes the fruit's fiber, which is what helps slow down the body's blood sugar response, Sharp notes. That doesn't make one better or worse, but experts note that for those who have been told by a doctor to watch their blood sugar, pairing a non-fibrous fruit juice with a more balanced meal containing fiber, protein and/or fat can help better regulate the blood sugar and deliver a higher quality of nutrition.
"All juices are typically stripped of their beneficial fibers that help slow the absorption of sugars and reduce the glycemic index," Sharp says. That means that even unsweetened apple juice can cause blood sugar spikes.
Apple juice is also acidic. Sharp warns that those with acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and tooth sensitivity may experience exacerbated symptoms after drinking apple juice due to the acidity.
Are refined grains really the enemy?Here’s what nutrition experts want you to know
What is the healthiest juice to drink?
If you're looking to maximize health benefits and minimize downsides, Sharp recommends going for a vegetable-based juice or a juice or smoothie with the fruit's fibers still in tact, such as orange juice with pulp.
More:Bella Hadid, Erehwon, TikTok influencers are using sea moss. Is it actually good for you?
But overall, diet experts wants to remind people that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to eating healthy.
“The healthiest food in any category will depend on you, your budget, your culture, your health goals, and so much more,” registered dietitian Miranda Galati previously told USA TODAY. “It’s amazing to make more nutrient-dense choices when possible, but choosing the more processed or convenient option isn’t always a bad thing either. As a registered dietitian who wants you to build a healthy lifestyle that lasts, I’d recommend ditching the idea that there’s a healthiest version of anything.”
veryGood! (84435)
Related
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Georgia Republicans suspend state senator who wants to impeach DA for indicting Trump
- This week on Sunday Morning (October 1)
- EU struggles to update asylum laws three years on from a sweeping reform. And the clock is ticking
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- Storm eases in Greece but flood risk remains high amid rising river levels
- From Trump's nickname to Commander Biden's bad behavior, can you beat the news quiz?
- How Wynonna Judd Is Turning My Pain Into Purpose After Mom Naomi Judd's Death
- Bodycam footage shows high
- Back for more? Taylor Swift expected to watch Travis Kelce, Chiefs play Jets, per report
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Hundreds of thousands of workers may be impacted by furloughs if government shutdown occurs
- Florida teen who was struck by lightning while hunting with her dad has died
- Viktor Hovland stays hot, makes hole-in-one on par 4 during Ryder Cup practice round
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Ohio couple sentenced to prison for fraud scheme involving dubious Alzheimer's diagnoses
- Black musician says he was falsely accused of trafficking his own children aboard American Airlines flight
- Revisiting Lane Kiffin's infamous tarmac firing by USC at an airport, 10 years later
Recommendation
Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
EEOC sues Tesla, alleging race discrimination and retaliation against Black employees
China investing unprecedented resources in disinformation, surveillance tactics, new report says
Police in Portland, Oregon, are investigating nearly a dozen fentanyl overdoses involving children
At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
Best and worst performances after a memorable first month of the college football season
Ohio couple sentenced to prison for fraud scheme involving dubious Alzheimer's diagnoses
Texas death row inmate with 40-year mental illness history ruled not competent to be executed