Warning: Do NOT buy Juice Boxes. Here is Why

Warning: Do NOT buy Juice Boxes. Here is Why!

A case of a patient which noticed green slime coming up the straw from her Juicy Juice box opened a different perspective of the way we look at juice boxes. Namely, her mother cut open the box and brought her straight to the doctor.  What was found in that unexpired juice box may frighten you completely: the juice box had been full of mold, green slime that lined the edges of the box.

The facts say that if even a tiny bit of air gets into the container, molds can instantly grow, so, apparently moldy juice boxes and juice pouches are nothing new.

Believe it or not, even through a tiny little hole in the container that does not cause leaking, and is not even visible, air can get into a juice box.  This small hole also allows the sugars in the juice to ferment, which turns the product into a form of alcohol.

In addition, children’s juice products are preservative- free, which is a perfect opportunity for mold to grow even more easily.

Fortunately, a fermented, moldy juice is usually not very dangerous to drink, since the most common complications of its consumption are an upset stomach and a completely grossed consumer.

However the best advice that you can take is to quit consuming juices, actually. The reason for this is that juice is a so- called gateaway drug, for it is full of sugar and calories. Sugar ingestion can actually cause release of natural opiates, and their release stimulates the desire for other sweets and junk food.

High salt and high fat foods can also trigger release of pleasure-inducing opiates.  This is why so many people crave for an ice cream, potato chips, and other popular junk foods.

In other words, the more sugar-laden juice you consume, the more opiates flood your system, and the more you will beg for another juice box.  After drinking all those calories and stimulating your sweet tooth, you will probably prefer to skip dinner and rather have some high salt, high sugar, high fat food instead.

Other disadvantages of the consumption of too much fruit juice can also cause tooth decay, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Let’s face it, you, and especially your children, can choose from a variety of other healthy foods that contain the needed vitamins, and without the high sugar and calories.  Your kids do not need juice and do not benefit from it.

Frankly, we all purchase juice boxes once in a while, for parties or hangouts at home. They are perhaps healthier than sodas, and children like them a lot. But since you just can’t be sure which juice box is moldy, and you probably won’t find out until its bottom, it is better to avoid them and buy some alternative.

Below are some important tips regarding children and fruit juice by The American Academy of Pediatrics. These recommendations are for 100% fruit juice, which differs from juice drinks.  Fruit drinks often provide little to no nutritional benefit.

-In children ages 6 months -6 years, fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit over whole fruit, since they also provide fiber and other nutrients.

-If you do let your kids drink fruit juice, do not allow your child to carry a sippy cup, bottle or box of juice throughout the day.  The limits for its intake are 4 to 6 oz/d for children 1 to 6 years old. Juice intake should be limited to 8 to 12 oz or 2 servings per day for children 7 to 18 years old.

– Unless directed by your physician, juice should not be introduced into the diet of infants before 6 months of age.  Occasionally small amounts of fruit juice may be recommended as a treatment for constipation.

-Your children should never drink unpasteurized juice.

source:http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com