November 17/Baton Rouge, La., and Waco, Texas/Journal of Technology & Science -- Although USDA recognizes that 4oz of 100% juice supplies one serving (1/2 cup) of fruit, there is still confusion regarding the healthfulness of juice. New research presented at the American Dietetic Association (ADA) Annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) clearly highlights the benefits of 100% juice, revealing that fruit juice drinkers were more likely than non-consumers to meet recommended levels of certain key nutrients.
The new study, from researchers at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and Baylor College of Medicine, examined a nationally representative sample of adults 19 years of age and older and found that drinking 100% fruit juice was closely linked to improved nutrient intake. More specifically, the researchers used data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to compare intake of "shortfall nutrients" -- those nutrients most frequently under-consumed by Americans -- among juice drinkers and non-consumers.