Why Whole Fruit Beats Juice in a Diabetes Diet

Sugar addition in packaged juice is an obvious no-no for people with diabetes, but even the new brands without added sugar, are not as good as whole fruits, as components of diets for people with diabetes.

The main reason lies in polyphenols. The latter are chemicals naturally produced by most plants, which retard ageing when consumed by humans. Polyphenols act as anti-oxidant. Tea is rich in this group of beneficial and natural chemicals, as our some dry wines as well. However, polyphenols may also lurk in the skin of fruit. Apple skin is a typical example of a rich plant source of polyphenols. Clarified and processed juice tends to exclude pulp and skin, and some of the polyphenols are lost as a result.

Most branded juices are packed in layered materials which tend to bend and get distorted by handling on retail shelves. It is difficult to distinguish such handling distortions from bulging due to deadly bacterial growth. Fresh and whole fruit, which can be decontaminated simply by washing in potable water, is therefore microbiologically safer than buying branded juice in tetra packs.

A fruit juice is a good choice of beverage to nurse at a social event, but prefer fresh and whole fruits with low sugar, such as apples, melons, pomegranates, and oranges, for your regular meal table.