Popular Juices, Judged
A glass of juice is often seen as a healthy companion to any meal. But are all juices really that good for you? Which juices come out victorious on the health front when you measure them up against each other? We’ll go over some of the most popular juices in this blog and see which come out on top. Whether you’re looking for detox juices or green drink ingredients, you’ll see that not all juices are rated equally!
The Whole Story
Of course, ranking juices will involve a good deal of subjectivity. The reason is that the specific brand of juice will have a lot more to do with its overall healthiness. You could take the healthiest fruits and veggies in the world, make a juice out of them, but still ruin it by adding way too much refined sugar, additives and preservatives.
It’s tricky to judge cocktails of different fruits and veggies mixed together (like in our green drink). With these, you’ll have to study the nutritional info provided carefully.
In general, your best bet when looking for healthy juices is to try and find examples that are low in sugar, 100% organic, and are filled with ingredients that give you plenty of nutrients and minerals. That said, let’s rank some of your favorite juices.
Orange Juice
Orange juice is a breakfast staple, so it makes sense that we’d start here. Despite being at many a breakfast table, you don’t always see orange juice in a leading role in many detox juices. Orange juice does have a lot going for it – it’s a great source of vitamin C, naturally sweet and comes in many different varieties. However, it does tend to be lower on many other essential nutrients. For example, you won’t find much in the way of antioxidants in a glass of OJ. Also, orange juice often gets overrated on health benefits because it usually has other nutrients added to it such as fiber or vitamin D – but this can also mean extra preservatives added. Fresh orange juice makes a refreshing treat, but don’t rely on it as a staple for a healthy diet.
Tomato Juice
Tomato juice is one of the most underrated juices out there – likely because people tend to value the sweetness of fruit juice. However, if you’re looking for a low-sugar juice, tomato juice is absolutely the way to go. It’s also lovely as a vegetable juice that comes with lots of the good stuff, from lycopene to potassium. Being so nutritious, you won’t suffer from the side effects of more “empty juices," such as the infamous celery juice headaches.
Cranberry Juice
When it comes to the fruit side of the juice scale, cranberry juice is definitely overlooked. Cranberry juice is full of antioxidants and vitamin C and is also low in sugar. Ironically, the one problem you might find while enjoying a serving of cranberry juice is the lack of sugar. Some people find unrefined cranberry juice to be a little sour, which leads many brands to add in a sweetener additive. This ends up ruining what made cranberry juice so great in the first place. Try to find low-sugar versions and look away from the cranberry cocktails, and you won’t be disappointed.
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice could maybe be even more underrated than cranberry juice. This is a shame since it’s filled with great antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, as well as excellent immune system support. Pomegranate juice is a popular option in most health food stores but can end up being on the more expensive side. Pomegranate kernels each have a small edible seed within them, making them very fibrous and yielding less juice.
Carrot Juice
If it’s good enough for Bugs Bunny, good enough for you, right? Carrot juice marries the low sugar content of tomato juice with a ton of vitamin A and beta-carotene, which are great for helping combat the signs of aging.
Celery Juice
Celery juice has become pretty popular as a modern “cure-all" among some people. It’s certainly got some anti-inflammatory properties, but so do a lot of the juices we’ve talked about. Drinking a lot of celery juice is also good for hydration – but then so is water. So does celery juice really work as a good detox juice? It’s not necessarily bad, but there are a lot of celery juice side effects that you’re going to have to deal with, from digestive issues to the infamous celery juice headaches. These mostly come from the fact that there’s not a lot of anything in celery. It’s not unhealthy, but it’s not a miracle cure.
Apple Juice
When it comes to taste, apple juice can’t be beaten. If you’re looking for a healthy sweetener for another juice, there’s not much better. That’s why apple juice is such a key component in our own green drink! However, a lot of apple juice you find on its own may be high in sugar. Also, juiced apples are sometimes missing the vital ingredients that are found in the peels of apples. This makes apple juice often a better ingredient than a juice to enjoy on its own.
Grape Juice
Grape juice is another staple on many tables across the country. Grapes are a popular fruit for a reason, since they’re perfect for your heart health. That’s why a glass of wine once in a while is considered a healthy habit. However, it must be warned that a lot of grape juice comes in versions that are very high in added sugar and from concentrate.
Mango Juice
We have time to squeeze in one last underrated fruit juice. Mango is known as the “king of fruits" by many, and for good reason. Mango is great for helping you boost your immunity and manage your blood pressure. Low sugar versions of mango juice are a delicious addition to any meal.
Chef V’s Green Drink
Chef V’s Green Drink is a powerfully potent detox juice in its own right. Mixing the best of greens with delicious apple juice is a recipe for delicious success. You get all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients you need in a great-tasting package.
Better yet, if you live in the Chef V delivery zone, you can get our green drink right at your doorstep. What’s not to love?