The Juice and Nothing But the Juice!

Thirsty? Drink a cold, refreshing glass of apple juice, it’s 100% juice! Apple juice not only tastes good, it is good for you, too.

Naturally sweet, apple juice is processed from raw apples. Processors will often blend together several varieties of apples to get just the right level of sweetness. If the bottle says 100% apple juice, it has no sugar or sweeteners added. That cannot be said for the many fruit drinks, cocktails, or ades, which contain less than 100% juice.

Apple juice can count as a fruit serving from the Fruit Group in the new MyPyramid food guide pyramid, or one of the National Cancer Institute and the Produce for Better Health Foundation’s recommended "5-A-Day." For more information about how much fruit and fruit juice you should consume, check out MyPyramid.gov.

Like other foods from the Fruit Group, apple juice contains no fat and virtually no sodium. Consumers can enjoy an additional benefit by drinking apple juice that is fortified with vitamin C.

Apple juice also contains phytonutrients that are newly discovered food components that occur naturally in plant foods. These nutrients may provide important health benefits similar to the antioxidants we hear so much about.

Apple juice is the juice most often recommended by pediatricians as the first beverage fed to babies and toddlers after breast milk or formula. Its relatively mild acidity makes it easy for most babies to tolerate. Babies love the sweet taste of apple juice, so it is easily accepted. Also, apple juice has a mild laxative effect that may help provide relief from constipation commonly experienced by little ones.

Just how is apple juice made? Raw apples are processed into apple juice after they are put through a handling process designed to remove external surface dirt and topical chemical residues. Once the apples are thoroughly cleaned and inspected, the juice is extracted from the apples and heat-treated (pasteurized) to kill microorganisms that might be present. Like milk, many juices have been heat treated to help them last longer and kill bacteria that may have occurred prior to or during processing. Nutrients and flavor are generally not affected by this process. Shelf stable and frozen fruit juices have been pasteurized or heat-treated. Government-mandated label advises consumers when a juice has not been pasteurized or heat treated.

When you hear the old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" don’t forget you can also "drink" an apple. It’s the juice and nothing but the juice!

So next time you or your kids are thirsty, don’t go for a drink with empty calories that is not 100% fruit juice. Instead, choose delicious, natural, good-for-you apple juice. Your stomach will say "Thank You!" (and so will your family).

Frequently Asked Questions About Fruit Juice