Fruit Juice and Children: the Good, Bad and Ugly

[not2late]

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;107/5/1210

Editing to include the recommendations listed in the policy statement

1. Juice should not be introduced into the diet of infants before 6 months of age.

2. Infants should not be given juice from bottles or easily transportable covered cups that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day.

3. Infants should not be given juice at bedtime.

4. Intake of fruit juice should be limited to 4 to 6 oz/day for children 1 to 6 years old. For children 7 to 18 years old, juice intake should be limited to 8 to 12 oz or 2 servings per day.

5. Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits to meet their recommended daily fruit intake.

6. Infants, children, and adolescents should not consume unpasteurized juice.

7. In the evaluation of children with malnutrition (overnutrition and undernutrition), the health care provider should determine the amount of juice being consumed.

8. In the evaluation of children with chronic diarrhea, excessive flatulence, abdominal pain, and bloating, the health care provider should determine the amount of juice being consumed.

9. In the evaluation of dental caries, the amount and means of juice consumption should be determined.

10. Pediatricians should routinely discuss the use of fruit juice and fruit drinks and should educate parents about differences between the two.

[Sarah_K]

Thanks for posting this! I was just talking to my sister about juice vs. whole fruit -- her daughter (8 yrs old) is gaining weight much more quickly than she is height, and the doctor is concerned about it, but didn't tell her any practical things to do. So I sent this link to sis -- very helpful.

[not2late]

Whole fruit is much better. It takes about 8-10 oranges to make 1 glass of juice! Think of all the sugar in that. AND juice typically has less fiber than a whole piece of fruit, so there's nothing to slow down the insulin response.

When I worked at a Children's Hospital, diet histories were taken from all overweight children. 9 times out of 10 fruit juice was on their menues and usually in large amounts.