Your mouth does not care where it gets its sugar from!
You might feel healthier drinking a glass of natural orange juice compared to a can of Lucozade, but when it comes to the potential damage they can do, a study has found little difference between the two.
A new study, undertaken over 6 years, with over 13,000 participants documented in the Journal of the American Medical Association, has found that whether the sugar has been artificially added to a fizzy drink or it is naturally occurring in a glass of fruit juice, it travelled through the body just the same. They also linked increased consumption of fruit juices to a higher mortality rate.
While 100% fruit juices contain some vitamins and phytonutrients and fibre, the predominant ingredient are sugar and water.
Although the sugar in SBB's (sugar sweetened beverages) is added during processing and the sugar in 100% natural fruit juices occurs naturally, the biochemical response of the body metabolises both types of sugars in the same way.
This information is very important as it highlights that many drinks, especially smoothies or fruit juices are seen as "healthy" but can be very high in sugar and acid, both of which as detrimental to your teeth.
In summary, fruit juices should be avoided and consumed in moderation. With 24g of sugar ( 6 teaspoons) existing in a small glass of orange juice, great care must be used when consuming natural fruit juices. The best drinks for us all are plain water and milk! Boring I know!
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