FRUIT JUICE NOT LINKED TO OBESITY, SAYS NUTRITIONIST

A nutritionist and wellness advocate, Dr. Bisi Abiola has explained that fruit juice has no link with obesity. She also noted that human system absgorbs fruit juice faster than whole fruits, as the digestive system needs to work harder to break down fiber contained in the latter.


Abiola made these observations in her monthly heathy living and wellness dialogue. The platform is aimed at demystifying the myths around fruit juice consumption.

According to Dr Abiola, 100% fruit juice is a better option for those whose digestive systems cannot sustain the pressure of breaking down solid foods and fibre.

In the maiden series of the discourse entittled ‘Fruit Juice: Myths and Facts’, Abiola stated: “Drinking fruit juice is good for you because your body absorbs the nutrients faster.

“In addition, fruit juice comes in handy if you are unable to keep solid food down or recovering from illness. On the fun side, juicing is a delightful way to relax and enjoy with your friends.”

According to the nutritionist, fruit juice contains minerals needed by human system to remain healthy. For example, a glass of Grape juice has been said to be a great choice for managing weight and controlling blood sugar.  She therefore encouraged individuals to develop a healthy culture towards fruit juice, which, according to her, has the capacity to boost public health.

“Orange juice, for instance, is chockfull of calcium and a healthful dose of Vitamin C. Fruit juice consumption helps you to get closer to your daily recommended fruit. And fruit juice has no scientific link with obesity.

“It is advisable to have a glass of fruit juice instead of sweetened soda, which often contains high fructose syrup difficult for your body to process,” she explained.

Abiola, who is also the Managing Director of Indulge Nigeria Limied,  said juice-cleanse aids weight loss. She, however, warned that the exercise is a crash diet and that its impact could only be sustained if the individual involved does not return to his or her normal lifestyle.

She continued: “One of the myths is that juice cleanse can help detox your body. While there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, proponents of fruit juice cleanse say it is suitable if you are fasting and prefer breaking the fast with refreshing drinks rather than solid food. Cleansing, however, should not be more than three days.

“The notion of juice cleanse detox is based on the vitamins and small quantity of B group vitamins and some trace of minerals present in 100% fruit juices. This makes fruit juice a sensible choice especially when the body needs detoxification.”

Interestingly, this is not a hard call to make as there are packaged 100% juices from brand of repute like Chivita, which are as good as whole fruit option in terms nutrients.

The renowned nutritionist argued that fruit juice helps to slow down kidney stone formation among people with history of the condition. She added that orange juice particularly increases the level of citrate in urine and reduces crystalisation of uric acid, thus keeping it under required level.

Abiola said that fruit juice is a refreshing option for breaking fast as it cleanses the system and prepares it for solid food intake.