Naked Juice is a very popular brand of vegetable and fruit smoothies, they come in a tasty variety of different flavor combos such as Green Machine, which is a mix of broccoli, apple, and kiwi.
They have become a very popular brand for smoothies.
However, there has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding these juices and how healthy they actually are.
We can tell you now that they are healthy, and are certainly better for you than drinking a 32 oz Coca-Cola, but let’s settle your mind on this first.
Inside A Bottle Of Naked Juice
The name ‘Naked Juice’ actually comes from the fact that the product has no preservatives, artificial flavorings, or added sugars. Therefore, it is unclothed by the things that would otherwise hide its natural state.
Do note that while it lacks these things, some of the drinks are supplemented with healthy foods like spirulina and vitamins as well.
Nutrition
Some of their products such as the Red or Blue machine can have up to 320 calories and 76g of carbs in each 450 ml bottle. However, aside from this, a 15.2oz/450ml bottle will provide you with the following nutritional values:
| Nutrition | Amount per bottle |
| Calories | 270 |
| Carbs | 63g |
| Fiber | 1.3g |
| Protein | 4g |
| Fat | 0g |
| Sugar | 53g |
| Vitamin C | 50% Daily Value |
| Vitamin B2, B6, & A | 25% Daily Value |
High Sugars & Low Fibers
Even though there are no added sugars in Naked Juices, these beverages are still very high in sugar, this all comes from fruits and other sources in which sugars will naturally occur.
They are also pretty low in fiber as most of this gets removed as the juicing process goes on.
Note that the AHA (American Heart Association) recommends no more than 9 teaspoons of sugar, which means 37.5 grams per day for men, and 25 grams per day for women.
A single 15.2 oz bottle of Green Machine would have around 13 teaspoons of sugar, which would throw most of us way off, actually doubling the RDA of sugar for women!
Proponents of juicing typically point to the dietary guidelines issued by the USDA. These would suggest that you should have 2 servings of fruit each day, either in 100% juice form or as whole fruits. However, since fruit juice is lower in fiber, you should still have 1 serving of whole fruit.
You need to balance out the whole fruits and juice to ensure you get enough of everything you need, without overloading on sugar!
What Are The Benefits Of Naked Juice? Are Naked Smoothies Good For You?
Is Naked Juice healthy? The simple answer is no, but it’s not as bad as you might think!
Naked Smoothies can be a nutritious choice as they contain fruits and vegetables. However, some varieties have high sugar content and lack fiber compared to homemade smoothies using whole fresh fruit and vegetables.
There has been research conducted that a moderate intake of fruit and vegetable juices (100%) can help us to meet the need for antioxidants.
Of course, vegetables and fruits can also help to protect us better against some chronic diseases thanks to their antioxidant contents. Antioxidants are necessary as they protect the body from any potential damage that could be caused by free radicals.
A study was done over a 14-week period over 49 people, and it discovered that drinking vegetable and fruit juices increased the levels of folate and antioxidants in comparison with people who did not.
Another study was done over 4 weeks with 60 participants and the results were similar. Showing an extremely high increase in antioxidants in the blood.
What Is Bad About Drinking Naked Juice?
While there are some good things about drinking Naked Juice, not everything about them is good.
So, is naked juice bad for you? Naked Juice can be very high in sugar and have much lower fiber volumes, which is a bit problematic, and is often where the idea that Naked Juice is not good for you comes from.
Too Much Sugar!
It is totally possible that vegetable juices and fruit juices that are 100% pure can have an overload of sugar, simply because they have many servings of whole fruit packed into them in liquid form.
Let’s consider Naked Juice Red Machine, a single bottle of this is made from 11 strawberries, 2 apples, 13 raspberries, 7 grapes, half of a banana, ¼ pomegranate, ⅔ of an orange, and 3 cranberries.
These fruits all have natural sugars, and when turned into juice, the sugars remain, and this is what increases the sugar content.
Remember that a high sugar intake is typically associated with a higher risk of heart disease, obesity, as well as type 2 diabetes.
A study looked at the differences between juice and whole fruits. The study took place over 18 years and included 71,346 women, the ones who ate whole fruit and veg had a decrease in the chance of Type 2 Diabetes, but those who drank fruit and veg juices saw an increased risk instead.
Another study looked at the effects of replacing fruit juice with an equal amount of whole fruit and its effect on diabetes risk. It concluded that the switch would reduce the risk by 7%.
Too Low In Fiber
Fruit and veg juice get a majority of the fiber from the fruit and veg removed as they are juiced.
Fiber is very important in making us feel full and regulating appetite, it is also important in the GI tract functioning as well.
Furthermore, fiber is important in reducing the risks of Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, as well as Metabolic Syndrome. It can also help to Stabilize blood sugar levels and aid in the secretion of insulin.
It could even prevent blood sugar spikes which is a high-risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes. Furthermore, it is possible that fruit and vegetable juice could increase insulin levels and blood sugar levels.
May Lead To Weight Gain
Finally, it is possible that Naked Juice could lead to weight gain. This is due to the fructose in the beverage.
Fructose has a lower fat-burning rate than glucose which can lead to a higher calorie intake.
Consuming too much sugar can lead to rises and crashes in your blood sugar, which often results in overeating, due to the fact that we are feeling sluggish after the sugar crash, and need a boost of energy.
We often get that boost of energy, by consuming calories.
Photo Credit @Naked
FAQs:
What Is The Healthiest Juice Drink On The Market?
Cranberry juice is the healthiest fruit juice you can get. However, make sure that you shop for cranberry juice with no added sugars ideally.
Are Any Juices Healthy?
Yes, cranberry juice especially, however, you should limit yourself to 5 oz per day. Fruit juices, even without added sugar, still contain sugar, so keep consumption to a minimum.
Is It Healthy To Drink Juice Every Day?
You can drink juice every day, but you should limit your intake to 5 ounces per day and no more. If you like juices but want to make sure what you are drinking is healthy, make your own juices at home.
- Diabetic-Friendly Chocolate Smoothie Bowl - December 2, 2023
- Diabetic-Friendly Green Smoothie - December 1, 2023
- Banana Flaxseed Smoothie For Weight Loss - November 30, 2023
No Comments