A beverage many believe to be a healthy choice may be anything but, according to leading geneticist Professor Giles Yeo. Speaking on Which? podcast, the Cambridge University academic issued a stark warning about fruit juices, including those labelled as 100% natural and even so-called health smoothies.
When asked about the unhealthiest foods, Professor Yeo explained that it’s difficult to name just one culprit. However, he admitted that fruit juices are the “bane of my life” due to widespread misconceptions about their health benefits.
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“No one thinks a soda is healthy. People think juices are healthy, so they drink a lot of it,” he explained. “This is one of those foods that has a halo of health, whereas actually, certainly from a sugar perspective, it’s no better than a soda.”
Yeo cautioned that problems arise when people consume juice under the false belief that it’s beneficial. “If you think ‘I’m drinking this as a health food’ and you’re mainlining it, because ‘this is healthy for me,’ that’s when the problem begins,” he said. “If you treat the orange juice like a soda, then everything is fine.”
He added that juices may be acceptable “within the context of a meal” since carbohydrates and fibre can slow sugar absorption. However, when consumed on their own, especially as part of a juice-based weight loss plan, the results can be counterproductive, reports Surrey Live.
“Suddenly you’re drinking a whole lot of sugar without the fibre involved,” he warned. “Juicing has a couple of problems. You’re removing whole food groups, you’re removing the fibre, and you’re pumping yourself full of sugar. It’s not a win-win, it’s a lose-lose.”
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Juicing diets, commonly known as juice cleanses or juice fasts, typically involve consuming only fruit and vegetable juices for several days. These diets are often marketed as methods for rapid weight loss and body detoxification.
Nutritionist Shefalee Loth added that while juicing may result in quick weight loss, it’s not a sustainable solution. “They’re not gonna keep you full. You might lose weight quite quickly because you‘ve drastically reduced your calorie intake,” she explained. “But the moment you go back to eating normally, all that weight is going to come back on.”
Experts continue to stress the importance of a balanced diet rich in whole foods and fibre over quick-fix fads that offer temporary results.
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