A research has suggested that drinking 100 per cent fruit juices could have protective health benefits similar to those of whole fruits.
Highlights from a new report summarizing recent research on the potential benefits of fruit juice showed a positive association between intake of 100 per cent juice and reduced risk for several chronic diseases, including cancer, markers for cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. “While it is universally accepted that fruit and vegetable intake is protective, there is not a clear consensus about the benefits of consuming the juices that are extracted from them,” said the review’s author, Dianne Hyson.
“An analysis of the scientific evidence suggests that 100 per cent fruit juices retain important bioactive components that may promote good health and aid in disease prevention,” added Hyson.
Among the fruit juices included in the review, consumption of apple, citrus, cranberry, grape, and pomegranate juices all showed beneficial effects. Markers of improved health ranged from reductions in urinary tract infections (cranberry) to improvements in age-related cognitive decline (grape and apple) to reduced risk of prostate (pomegranate) and respiratory and digestive (orange, grapefruit) cancers. Additionally, intake of all juices was linked to heightened antioxidant activity.
The research was presented in a literature review at the 2011 Experimental Biology (EB) meeting.
