JUICES

Health benefits and concerns

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

Some doctors recommended that people with CHF consume whole fruit and fruit and vegetable juices, all of which are high in potassium; however, this dietary change should be discussed with a healthcare provider, because several drugs given to people with CHF (e.g., “potassium-sparing diuretics”) can actually cause retention of potassium, making dietary potassium, even from fruit, dangerous.

Diarrhea

Some juices contain sugars that are absorbed slowly, such as fructose in fruit juice or sorbitol. Through a process called osmosis, these unabsorbed sugars hold onto water in the intestines, sometimes leading to diarrhea. By reading labels, people with chronic, noninfectious diarrhea can easily avoid fruit juice, fructose, and sorbitol to see if this eliminates the problem.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Acidic beverages, such as juices, have been linked to increased heartburn pain and can contribute to symptoms in people with GERD.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Preliminary evidence suggests that some people with IBS have greater trouble absorbing fructose, a sugar found in high concentration in fruit juice, than do healthy people. Therefore, when attempting to uncover food sensitivities, people with IBS should consider the possibility that fruit juice might trigger symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

A survey in which researchers gathered information from nearly 400 people (half with MS) over three years, found that consumption of vegetable protein, fruit juice, and foods rich in vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, and potassium correlated with a decreased MS risk.

Urinary tract infections (UTI)

Modern research suggests that cranberry may prevent urinary tract infections. Cranberry may be effective because it may prevent E. coli, the bacterium that causes most urinary tract infections, from attaching to the walls of the bladder. However, cranberry is not a substitute for antibiotics in the treatment of acute UTIs. Moreover, in children whose UTIs are due to “neurogenic bladder” (a condition caused by spinal cord injury or myelomeningocele), cranberry juice supplementation did not reduce the rate of infection. Drinking 300–500ml (10–16 oz.) unsweetened or lightly sweetened cranberry juice is recommended by many doctors for prevention and as part of the treatment of urinary tract infections.

Vaginitis and Yeast infection

Some doctors believe that a well-balanced diet low in fats, sugars, and refined foods is important for preventing vaginal infections caused by Candida albicans (a type of fungus). Many doctors advise women who have a yeast infection (or are predisposed to such infections) to limit their intake of sugar, fruit juices, and refined carbohydrates. For persistent or recurrent infections, some doctors recommend that fruit also be avoided. Food allergies are believed to be a contributory factor in some cases of recurrent irritant vaginitis.