Benefits and dangers of store-bought juices: Nutritionist's perspective
Beneficial of store-bought juices for children (Photo: Freepik)
Many believe that juices are essential to a balanced diet, including for Children. However, this is not entirely true, as store-bought juices can harm a child's body, according to the Ukrainian evidence-based certified nutritionist Liudmyla Matishynets.
Beneficial of store-bought juices for children
Health organizations do not recommend giving juice to children under 2 years old.
"My personal choice is to limit juice consumption for my kids. Your choice is up to you, but maybe this will help you understand if juice is necessary for your child," the message reads.
When most mothers see labels on juices indicating suitability for children aged 4 to 6 months, they automatically think that the juices are approved by health and medical organizations.
However, children under one year should primarily consume breast milk or special formulas, with complementary foods introduced at 6 months, and juice is not on that list.
The expert noted that if you still decide to give your child juice, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the ingredients listed on the back.
The WHO classifies these beverages as containing added free sugars and recommends that they be excluded from a child's diet until they are 1-2 years old.
Therefore, you should look for juices that do not contain added sugars.
Recommendations for consuming fruit juices
Maximum daily dose of juice:
- 120 ml for children aged 1 to 3 years
- 180 ml for children aged 4 to 6 years
- 240 ml for children aged 7 to 18 years, which is one of the 2.5 recommended daily servings of fresh fruit
Children aged 1 to 3 years should not be given juice at night or before a daytime nap.
It is important to know that the constant presence of carbohydrates in the mouth can cause tooth decay.
It is better to encourage children to eat fresh fruits. Fruit juice is not suitable for treating dehydration and diarrhea.
Children taking medications should not be given grapefruit juice, as it can affect the effectiveness of the medications.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
