All about Juice

When a vitamin comes in its natural package, not only is that vitamins ingested, but so are other nutrients (some of which we aren’t even aware of yet) that work with it for good health. For this reason, orange, papaya, and pineapple juice (rich in vitamin C), apricot nectar, tomato juice (rich in vitamin A), mango juice and vegetable juice (rich in both), and other naturally nutritious juices should be your beverages of choice.

At this point, orange juice has another score that also contains calcium. Apple juice, still a natural beverage, is a distant second best; it’s better choice if it is enriched with vitamin C (but do not serve unpasteurized cider since it could be contaminated with hazardous bacteria). Though it doesn’t naturally contain great quantities of any of the known vitamins, some ingredients in apples are beginning to get scientific attention, and maybe one day soon the reasoning behind proverb “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” will become clear.

Juice combination that are comprised mostly of grape juice and/or apple juice fall into the same category as straight apple juice, again, enrichment with vitamin C makes them a better bet. Sugar-water beverages (vitamin enriched or not), including 10% fruit juice drinks and nay other fruit drinks or punches that contain sugar or any of its aliases on the label, are not only least best, they should be scratched from the list of acceptance beverages for your toddler. Your toddler would be better off swallowing some vitamin C drops; at least then there would be no empty calories along for a free ride.

And don’t overdo juice. Too much of any juice can lead to malnutrition, with inadequate intake of protein and complex carbohydrate and, if mixed with fluoridated water, possible, too much fluoride. Large amounts of apple or pear juice can lead to chronic diarrhea. Limit intake of low-nutrition juices to no more than 4 to 8 ounces daily, diluted with an equal amount of water. And be sure that juice, even nutritious juice, doesn’t replace milk that your toddler needs about 2¾ cups daily, or solid foods in your child’s diet.