Is juice as good?

Question

I don't eat a lot of fresh fruit, just one banana or apple a day, but I do drink two 8 oz. glasses of orange juice a day. I don't eat a lot of vegetables, probably average 1 serving a day. I drink one 8 oz. glass of V-8 a day. Am I getting enough fruit and vegetable portions? Other than that, I eat a fairly healthy diet of whole grains, chicken, salmon, beans and nuts. I am allergic to milk, so I use soy substitute which I know is good for me. I make up for calcium by eating other dairy products such as cheese.

How am I doing nutrition wise?

Answer 1

You're doing above average in a lot of areas. Chicken and salmon are great meats to consume because they are loaded with proteins, contain good heart healthy fats and fatty acids, and are low in saturated fats. Nuts as well contain heart healthy fats and have been shown to help reduce belly fat when consumed in moderation (almonds are the best for this).

I also applaud you for choosing whole grains over white flour and ensuring you're getting your calcium which is required for strong bones and has been shown in many studies to help people lose weight.

To answer your title question though, no juice is not as good as eating fruit. Juice is often loaded with perservatives and extra sugar, and if left on the store shelf for a long period of time can lose much of its nutrient content as well. A whole orange is a much better serving of fruit than a glass of orange juice. Both would get you about 1 serving of fruit, but the whole orange with have more nutrients, less calories, and only natural sugars.

V-8 is slightly better than juice because its more so a blended combination of veggies, with less added ingredients than fruit juice. If you're not a veggie fan but like V-8 then I would certainly recommend you keep drinking it to get at least some servings into your diet.

The only other recommendation I would have is to consider investing in a multi vitamin to make up for your lack of fruits and veggies. In terms of vitamins and minerals your diet may be lacking somewhat, and total body health is more than just how many calories you're taking in each day. A good multi vitamin will help you make up for any deficiencies in your diet. Ask a professional at a pharmacy about multivitamins or visit a nutritional store such as GNC.

I hope this answers your question!

Answer 2

only fresh pressed juice and if you also eat the grounds--is totally healthy. But try a spoon of fiber in your diet and a vitamin pill--that's a quick fix solution that's at least better than what you're doing now: compared to most peoples diets? On a scale of 1--10 10 being perfect .... I guess your at a 7.
At least u cared enough to ask.

Answer 3

Sounds like you're doing great to me. Generally speaking, the fruit is considered better than the juice, as the juice contains so much sugar. If you aren't concerned about your weight and are otherwise healthy, I see no reason why you can't enjoy your juice.

I happen to love V-8 juice myself but it does have a lot of sodium in it. I buy the low sodium variety myself, but then I have high blood pressure.

It wouldn't hurt to add some green leafy vegetables. Try a spinach and mixed greens salad. You might like it more than you think..

At any rate your diet is healthier than mine.

Answer 4

Sounds like you are doing better than most of us!

Certainly you eat better than me.