How much fruit juice a day is okay for children?

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American researchers wanted to find out if fruit juice children can make you fat. With the help of a meta-analysis of various studies, they came to the conclusion that a glass of 100 percent juice per day is largely safe for children. Your study was published in the specialist magazine “Pediatrics”.

A glass of orange juice a day does not seem to make you fat

For one to six year olds, this amount is associated with a small weight gain. However, this is so low that it is not clinically significant. In children between the ages of seven and 18, one glass a day has no effect on the weight.

Based on the current evidence, one cannot say that eating one serving of fruit juice a day causes weight problems in children, according to study author Dr. Brandon Auerbach from the University of Washington at Seattle.

How the study went

For their study, the scientists took a closer look at eight studies that looked at the consumption of 100 percent fruit juice and a possible change in the BMI. The data from a total of 34,000 children were processed in these.

The younger children in the study – in whom a low weight gain was observed – preferred to drink apple juice, the older orange juice. Thus, organic juice associated with a slower rise in blood sugar levels may also result in less weight gain.

Spritzer as an alternative to juices

Nevertheless, fruit juice is not an optimal thirst quencher for children. Although it is obtained from fruit and contains vitamins and minerals, it also contains a lot of sugar, according to the German Nutrition Society. In addition, according to her, fruit juices do not quench thirst because they leave a sticky mouthfeel.

The company recommends non-calorie drinks instead. Water and unsweetened herbal or fruit teas are ideal. And if it should be juice? Instead of pure fruit juice, parents should then rather offer their children spritzers that consist of one part of juice and three parts of water. According to the company, these are “acceptable”. To get the necessary vitamins, children should eat fruits and vegetables instead of drinking fruit juices.

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