100pc fruit juice still make up for healthy school lunches

Washington, Oct 7 : While parents are wondering how much of 100 percent juice to be given to their children in lunch, researchers have reckoned that it definitely contributes important nutrients to the diet and is clearly not the reason for childhood obesity. Hundred percent fruit juice has long been included in school foodservice meals or in the lunches, and is still considered healthful beverage that can serve as a daily fruit serving.

Parents have been fearing that excess of the juices might prove to be harmful to their children, because of the natural sweet taste of fruit juice. After examining all the scientific literature, the study, titled A Review of the Relationship Between 100% Fruit Juice Consumption and Weight in Children and Adolescents," concluded: "There is no systematic association between consumption of 100 per cent fruit juice and overweight in children or adolescents."

According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, the appropriate amounts of 100 percent juice daily for children of 1-6 years are 4-6 ounces, and the same figure for older children from ages 7-18 is 8-12 ounces daily.

In fact, the USDA Food Guide Pyramid has included guidelines for incorporating 100 percent juice as a fruit serving.

Also, fruit juices make up for substantial contributions of several nutrients in higher amounts in the diet as compared to whole fruits, including vitamin C, folate and potassium.

Besides, 100 percent fruit juice contains many naturally occurring phytonutrients that contribute to good health.

The findings have been published in the American Medical Association's Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (AJLM).

ANI