Just how good is Juice?

Q> I enjoy those drinks from the juice bar at my local shopping centre. Are they good for me?

A> Freshly made juices are a great way to enjoy fruits and even some vegetables. Drinks from juice bars or juice made at home means you can enjoy the freshest juice possible.
You will receive a good source of vitamins from the fruits that are juiced, especially vitamin C. However, juicing usually means you will receive less fibre than was present in the whole fruit or vegetable.
With juice bars rapidly appearing in food courts and malls across Australia and New Zealand, it seems a cup of fresh juice in your hand as you shop could be the latest accessory! But beware the serving size.
It’s important to remember that because juices usually contain less fibre, they may not be as filling. This means you may be more likely to overconsume the juice than if you were eating whole foods. Juices provide a concentrated source of energy (kilojoules), which may be a problem for people watching their weight.1 So, beware the super-sized servings available at most juice bars.
Eating whole fruits and vegetables is preferable to drinking large amounts of juice. The whole foods will contribute variety to your diet and help you receive the dietary fibre your body needs to be healthy.
So if you visit a juice bar, we suggest you opt for a small or medium sized drink. Enjoying one glass of juice per day (approx 250-300 ml) and making up the rest of your daily fluid intake from other sources, especially water, is a healthy way to go.

References:
1. Stanton R, Complete Book of Food and Nutrition,
Australia: Simon & Schuster Australia, 1995.