Natural fruit juice manufacturers and smoothie mix distributors have been sneaking added sugars into beverages and beverage bases for years, without losing their claim to healthiness. Long associated with fruits and vegetables, commercial fruit juices were thought to provide additional nutrition as part of a healthy diet. However, recent research indicates that added sugars can make commercial fruit juices nearly as unhealthy as a soft drink. The USDA has even recommended that Americans consume less added sugars as part of a healthy daily diet. The World Health Organization suggests that only 5% of our daily calorie intake should come from added sugars. According to the CDC, the majority of Americans can attribute 16% of their daily calorie intake from added sugars, far more than the recommended amount. 

Added sugars are sugars and syrups that are put in food during preparation, processing, or at the table. Added sugars contribute zero nutrients, but do add many calories that can lead to extra pounds and leave  people at further risk for chronic illnesses. For the average consumer, added sugars can be hard to spot on a list of ingredients. The food industry has many different names for sugar, disguising it with over 50 different names that adds even more confusion to the equation. Simply put, a body doesn’t need to get any carbohydrates from added sugar, which is why they aren’t recommended as part of a healthy diet.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the average American consumes 22 teaspoons (or 88g) of added sugar per day, which amounts to about 350 calories. The American Heart Association suggests an added sugar limit of just 6 teaspoons (24g) for women and 9 teaspoons (36g) per day for adults. This means that many people take in more than the recommended amount of added sugar in a single serving or snack. Evidence suggests that added sugar consumption plays a role in the epidemics of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Studies show that many fruit juices have a high concentration of fructose, comparable to that of your favorite sodas. That means that, in terms of sugar content, fruit juices with added sugar pose similar health risks to a soft drink. 

Refined, concentrated sugar consumed in large amounts causes blood glucose and insulin levels to rise rapidly, while also increasing triglycerides, inflammatory mediators, and oxygen radicals, creating a possible risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and other chronic illnesses. 

For restaurants and juice bar owners, finding natural fruit juice manufacturers and smoothie mix distributors that don’t use added sugars in their products is the first step towards serving customers a healthy juice or smoothie. When purchasing for restaurants, coffee shops, cafés and other serving establishments, it is imperative to check the label for any artificial additives, GMOs, and added sugars before committing to a brand. With government initiatives aimed at decreasing the amount of added sugar consumption in America, consumers are steering clear of products with these harmful ingredients. Choosing products with no added sugars is a great way to ensure that the food and beverage options served at your establishment are both healthy and delicious.