Fruit Juice, Diabetes May Be Linked in Women
Should women drink fruit juice regularly? New research suggests no.
July 18, 2008— -- As it turns out, your grandmother was right. An apple a day really might keep the doctor away.
Indeed, it shouldn't come as any surprise -- dozens of studies have shown us that fruits and vegetables are the cornerstones of a healthy diet.
However, the same may not hold true when it comes to your morning apple juice. Or orange juice, for that matter.
Americans often turn to juice as a healthy alternative to soda and other sweetened drinks. In fact, the average American drinks approximately 11 gallons, or 177 cups of juice a year, according to the World Development Indicators Database.
But new data suggests that for women at least, juice consumption may contribute to an increased risk of diabetes.
The study, recently published in the journal Diabetes Care, looked at data from the Nurses' Health Study, which has followed the health and lifestyles of more than 70,000 women over an 18-year period.
The authors found an association between fruit and fruit juice intake and the likelihood of developing type 2, or "adult onset" diabetes.
Those women who consumed an average of one or more servings of fruit juice a day were 18 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, whereas those who consumed three or more servings of whole fruits or one serving of green leafy vegetables had significantly lower rates of the disease.
Back in 1916, advertisers coined the slogan "Drink an Orange." According to the author of "Citrus: A History," this marketing campaign was responsible for the appearance of orange juice next to our ham and eggs.
Today, that glass of OJ is a morning ritual for many Americans. Should we be changing our ways?
Experts are split on the issue; while some suggest avoiding juice completely, others say that moderation is key, setting a limit of four to six ounces a day.
But this half-cup serving is much less than the typical 16 to 20 ounces many people consume daily, according to Connie Diekman, director of nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis.
