These Are 10 Unhealthy Juices Worse than Giving Your Kids Soda

If you are looking for an alternative to soda for your family, it can be tempting to reach straight for the juice on the shelf. After all, most are touted as a healthier option. However, not all juices are created equally. These 15 unhealthy juices are worse than drinking soda.

Wait, isn’t juice healthy? In theory, juice should be healthier. After all, many claims to contain plenty of nutrient content. That means they are worth it, right? Well, it depends on which one you choose.

Some juice brands are stocked full of sugar, which can negate the benefits you may be loading up. Additionally, juice can also be relatively low in fiber because, during the juicing process, the fruit is stripped of this natural vitamin.

While some of the juices on this list can have nutrient benefits in small dosages, too much can be problematic. Sugar has a link to increasing several health risks, including stroke, dental cavities, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Therefore, reducing how much of these juices you consume may be a good idea.

If you love juice and prefer to get your nutrition this way instead of natural fruits and vegetables, there are a few things to look for. While this isn’t always foolproof, one of the first things to look for is a brand that says it’s 100% juice. This may limit the amount of sugar that has been added to it.

Also, look for low-sodium and juices with no added dyes or preservatives.

Now, let’s look at the top unhealthy juices that have graced our grocery store shelves. Unless you are a person who constantly reads labels, it can be easy to assume all juices have significant health benefits. Yet, the juice on this list can be just as unhealthy as drinking soda. Let’s look at the reasons why.

Tropicana Caribbean Sunset juice has a high sugar content, around 22 grams, in an eight-fluid ounce serving. Additionally, this juice also contains very little fiber and other nutritional values. According to the EWG website, Tropicana Caribbean Sunset also has a moderate processing concern.

It should be no surprise that Sunny D Tangy Original juice is considered unhealthy. Sunny D contains 14 grams of sugar in an eight-ounce serving. It is also not 100% fruit. This means Sunny D contains artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors, which can negatively affect health.

Their marketing strategy is misleading because the company touts nutritious benefits. However, Sunny D isn’t exactly orange juice. The only thing it has going for is the 100% recommended daily vitamin C. Yet, the sugar content and additives overshadow this benefit.

One way to know whether or not a juice is safe to call unhealthy depends on the name. Many people know that if the name has the word cocktail, the blend contains plenty of added flavoring and sugar. The same goes for the word punch.

In the case of Minute Maid Peach Punch, the first two ingredients are water and high fructose corn syrup. On top of the high fructose corn syrup, 23 grams of added sugars are added.

Do you remember when Welch’s Grape Juice claimed its juice was good for your heart? But looking beyond the dress-ups, like being made 100% Concord grads and free of artificial flavors, you will find something more alarming. The total sugars in an 8-ounce Welch’s Grape Juice bottle amount to 35 grams.

A 12-ounce fluid ounce of Dr. Pepper contains 38 grams of sugar. At the same time, a Hershey’s bar has 17 grams of sugar.

In comparison, the previous juices on this list are small stones when stacked up with Naked Juice. This juice contains a puree of fruit or vegetable combined with added sugars, preservatives, and more.

While most Naked Juices are inherently high in sugar content and calories, one staggering example is the Blue Machine. This Naked Juice contains a whooping 320 calories and 55 grams of sugar. These numbers are well above the average soda or candy bar content.

If you have ever tasted the kid’s favorite Hawaiin Punch as an adult, you know it tastes like straight-up sugar syrup. Perhaps you asked yourself, how did I ever drink this as a kid?

Hawaiian Punch is packed with high fructose corn syrup, which has been known to increase the risk of adverse effects like weight gain, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. This juice also has artificial colors like Red 40 and Blue 1. Furthermore, it’s chock-full of preservatives and artificial flavors. Finding an alternative to this sweet drink would be better if health is a concern.

Juice is one of the most common drinks to give little ones, especially as they begin to wean towards eating more than baby food. However, choosing apple juice with labels such as 100% fruit or organic is essential.

Juicy Juice Apple Juice is processed and made using concentrated apple juice. Therefore, the amount of sugar in this drink is as high as 27 grams per 8-ounce drink.

In general, if the name of the juice has a punch, it’s most likely unhealthy. Fruit punches typically have a high sugar content. Furthermore, they contain less fruit juice than, say, 100% fruit juice drinks.

Simply Fruit Punch is no exception. This drink has 21 grams of added sugar and 25 grams of total sugar. Additionally, there are very few nutrients like protein and fiber.

In theory, green drinks are healthier than your average fruit juice. Vegetables have less sugar and calories than fruit. Not to mention the vitamins and minerals that vegetables like broccoli and spinach carry.

However, Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness has less than 2% of those yummy greens. Instead, much of the juice is concentrated in pineapple and apple juice. This spikes the sugar content up to 26 grams of sugar. Even with no added sugar, it’s still on the high side.

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail has at least one thing going for it. Cranberries contain a healthy amount of antioxidants and vitamin C. Therefore, you will still benefit from drinking this juice. However, it’s still a cocktail. Which means it gets mixed up with all kinds of sugars and sweeteners.

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail contains a lot of sugar, 28 grams. This extra sugar and very little nutritional value make this juice just as unhealthy as drinking soda.

Juice can be an appealing alternative if you are trying to avoid drinks like soda. Soda, as many people know, can be very addictive and also have adverse effects on our health. When trying to kick the habit of drinking soda, reaching for a cup of juice can be easy. However, this may not always be the wisest choice.

These ten juices can be just as unhealthy as drinking soda. They contain high levels of sugar. Some of these juices also have high levels of high fructose corn syrup. Too much high fructose corn syrup can harm a person’s health for several reasons. This ingredient can increase the risk of heart disease, liver disease, tooth decay, gout, and many more.

So, watch for a few things when looking for a delicious but healthier juice. Avoid labels with punch, cocktail, or concentrate in them. Additionally, juices that say 100% fruit juice or organic tend to be healthier. But when in doubt, opting for water is always a good idea!