Experts drew attention to the increase in fruit juice consumption and warned. Endocrinologist Mithat Bahçeci, stating that even freshly squeezed fruit juice suffers from vitamin loss, said that fructose-rich, pulp-free fruit juice that has lost its vitamin C is equivalent to sugar water. prof. Dr. Bahçeci, “Therefore, we are faced with the risk of insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia and type 2 diabetes in the future, rather than the benefit, as if drinking sugary water. Even if it is freshly squeezed, the fruit itself should be consumed instead of fruit juice.
Due to both the efficiency of the ready-made food industry and the living conditions, it is preferred to consume ready-made fruit juice or freshly squeezed fruit juice instead of the fruit itself, with the belief that especially busy people and children are more comfortable and healthy.
SUGAR IN FRUIT JUICE BLENDS QUICKLY INTO THE BLOOD
Reminding that all fruits contain fructose, or fruit sugar, Prof. Dr. Bahçeci said, “Under normal conditions, fructose is found in the fruit cell and slowly and harmlessly mixes into the blood when the fruit is consumed and not excessively consumed. On the other hand, even if it is freshly squeezed, the free fructose in the fruit juice mixes into the blood very quickly and causes serious insulin resistance. Again, to emphasize, the fruit itself contains a lot of fiber or fiber, while fruit juice does not have much fiber. Thus, the glycemic index of drinking fruit juice, that is, the effect of increasing blood sugar, increases even more. Consumption of fiber-free, free fructose-rich fruit juice causes a rapid rise in blood sugar, and the pancreas secretes more insulin to bring this level back to normal. This is what we call insulin resistance. Over time, when this resistance reaches a certain level and enough insulin is not secreted, the situation worsens and the risk of type 2 diabetes arises. The World Health Organization recommends that adults take no more than 30 grams of added sugar per day, which is equivalent to about 150 ml (one tea glass) of fruit juice. It should not be exceeded as much as possible. Consuming squeezed fruit juice causes excessive consumption in quantity. For example, at least 3-4 apples are required for 1 glass of apple juice, and at least 2 oranges are required for 1 glass of orange juice, which leads to even more fructose-rich liquid taken.”
VITAMIN C REDUCES
Expressing the importance of consuming fruit instead of fruit juice in terms of vitamins, Prof. Dr. Bahçeci emphasized that when vitamin C comes into contact with the oxygen of the air, it oxidizes rapidly and loses its vitamin activity. For this reason, he draws attention to the fact that the vitamin C activity of freshly squeezed fruit juice decreases considerably as the vitamin C it contains comes into contact with the air in large quantities while being squeezed.
Bahçeci said, “This vitamin is very sensitive to alkali and loses its vitamin feature by oxidizing rapidly in alkaline environment. High temperature, light, oxygen in the air, minerals such as copper and iron, and alkaline environment accelerate oxidation, increasing the loss of vitamins, and thus the vitamin content in the prepared fruit juice is further reduced. For this reason, the fruit itself should be consumed as much as possible. Otherwise, when fruit juice that is rich in free fructose, does not contain pulp and has lost vitamin C, is consumed, it is as if sugary water is consumed instead of fruit, and insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia and the risk of type 2 diabetes in the future are encountered rather than benefit. (DHA)