FRUIT + VEG GREEN DRINKS — CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE®

Information updated December 2023

THE DEBATE OVER THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FRUIT JUICES CONTINUES: There was an article in The New York Times about juice >> “Seriously, Juice Is Not Healthy” . We perceive most juice as healthy because of the minerals, vitamins and fibers contained in fruits and vegetables. However, many juice drinks and fruit + veg drinks are extremely high in naturally-occurring sugar. 

Q: Are fruits are a healthy way to get vitamins, minerals + fiber or does the sugar content outweigh the benefits?

A homemade fruit + veg green drink might look something like this in terms of ingredients >> leafy greens + fruits + veggies + spices:

COMMERCIAL FRUIT + VEG GREEN DRINK COMPARISON: Let’s compare Naked brand Green Machine to one of the Closest To Homemade® products >>  a fruit + veg green drink from Suja Organic.

The Suja Organic beverage is certified USDA organic and contains no ingredients Not In Kitchen™. (Sources: PAI Partners Naked Web site 12/23; Paine Schwartz Partners Suja Organic Web site 12/23)

Naked Green Machine (above left) has significantly more naturally-occurring sugar than the Suja Organic drink >> 53 grams of naturally-occurring sugar in the 15.2oz. Naked Green Machine vs. 17 grams of organic naturally-occurring sugar in the 12oz. Suja Organic drink.

SUGAR COMPARISON NAKED vs. PEPSI: Below is a sugar comparison of Naked Green Machine vs. Pepsi.

A 7.5oz. serving of Pepsi has 26 grams of Added Sugar, primarily from fructose in the form of High Fructose Corn Syrup.

An 8oz. serving of Naked Green Machine flavored blend of 5 juices with added ingredients & other natural flavors has 26 grams of naturally-occurring Sugar, also primarily from fructose as found in the fruit + veggie juices + purées.

JOHNS HOPKINS WARNS AGAINST HIGH FRUCTOSE CONSUMPTION: The Johns Hopkins Medicine Web site 12/23 states, “ . . . individuals should control our consumption of sugar and eat sugar in moderation, especially when it comes to specific types of sugar such as fructose, in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid serious damage to our bodies.”

Regardless of the difference in the source of the fructose, our bodies process all fructose in the same manner. 

According to The American Heart Association: Children should consume less than 25 grams of added sugar daily, while men should consume no more than 36 grams daily and women, 25 grams. (Source: AHA 2023)

This is where the sticky issue lies: 

ADDED SUGAR VS. NATURALLY-OCCURRING SUGAR: Sugar which is naturally contained within fruits and vegetables is not considered “added sugar” >> so, despite the fact that it contains naturally-occurring sugar, a beverage which is made 100% from juice technically has no added sugar.

THE LEADING BRANDS OF FRUIT + VEG GREEN DRINKS HAVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF NATURALLY-OCCURING SUGAR.

Naked Green Machine and Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness contain significant amounts of naturally-occurring Sugar in one 15.2oz. bottle vs. Suja Organic with 35 grams of naturally-occurring Sugar in 12oz Green Delight. (Sources: Brand Web sites 12/23)

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE FRUIT + VEG GREEN DRINKS: The Closest To Homemade Veg + Fruit Green Drinks shown below have no ingredients Not In Kitchen >> no Added Flavors, Colors, Sweeteners or Chemical Preservatives. They are all made from Cold-Pressed Juice.

The CTH brands include Suja USDA Organic + Non-GMO Project Verified Uber Greens and Mighty Dozen; Juice From The Raw Sweet Greens; Evolution Fresh USDA Organic + Non-GMO Project Verified Super Fruit Greens, and Living Pineapple Punch which is certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified. (Sources: Brand Web sites 12/23)

THE LEADING FRUIT + VEG GREEN DRINK BRANDS CONTAIN ADDED FLAVORING. Whereas the Closest To Homemade brands have simple designations on their bottle fronts like “Vegetable & Fruit Juice Blend”, the products on the below left have Added Flavors + Added Water and other “added ingredients”, and, therefore, have longer descriptions on the bottle front which are legally mandated such as:

Naked Green Machine: “Flavored blend of 5 juices partially from concentrate with added ingredients & other natural flavors.”

Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness: “Kiwi, apple & mango flavored blend of 4 from, 2 not from concentrate juices with added ingredients.”

Note that the below left descriptions say “with added ingredients” << that is the key thing to look for which indicates the inclusion of commercial ingredients.

Note that the Closest To Homemade brands on the above right have their ingredients listed on the front of clear bottles. Now, That is transparency, yay!

Discover more food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.

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