Value Juice Vs 'Normal' Juice

Kintarō Hattori

Hey Folks,

I was just wondering if there is a difference in the quality/nutritional content of juice such as the value stuff you find in Tesco's/Dunnes versus stuff such as Fruice and their own 'better' brands.
I can never distinguish much of a difference in the taste so I'm wondering if it's simply down to the way it's packaged. I realise that pure non-concentrated juice is the way to go, but I'm specifically asking about the concentrate stuff.

Is there a difference in the likes of Tesco Value juice as opposed to the more expensive own brand stuff. I don't see the point in spending 2/3 times as much if it's the same thing only in better packaging.

g'em

No difference, when it's made from concentrate it's all kinda crap

There's very little nutritional benefit to concentrated juices to be honest - no fibre, no antioxidants, sometimes added sugar. The 'freshly' squeezed juices are a little better (Tropicana and the like) and juice from juice bars (made on the spot) would be better again.

Carroller16

eo980 wrote: »

Hey Folks,

I was just wondering if there is a difference in the quality/nutritional content of juice such as the value stuff you find in Tesco's/Dunnes versus stuff such as Fruice and their own 'better' brands.
I can never distinguish much of a difference in the taste so I'm wondering if it's simply down to the way it's packaged. I realise that pure non-concentrated juice is the way to go, but I'm specifically asking about the concentrate stuff.

Is there a difference in the likes of Tesco Value juice as opposed to the more expensive own brand stuff. I don't see the point in spending 2/3 times as much if it's the same thing only in better packaging.

have to say I totally agree with that... buy value tastes the same nutritional benefits are the same and it's much cheaper than the other concentrates

Mr Magnolia

I was thinking about purchasing a juicer but I'm told they're tough to clean properly. Any thoughts?

I also picked up somewhere that fruit is full of sugar. Where does this type of sugar stand with cholesterol production, HDL/LDL?

g'em

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

I was thinking about purchasing a juicer but I'm told they're tough to clean properly. Any thoughts?

I have one of the bog-standard lemon/orange juicers, super-easy to clean because there's just a collecting jug.

Mr. Magnolia wrote:

I also picked up somewhere that fruit is full of sugar. Where does this type of sugar stand with cholesterol production, HDL/LDL?

If that question was a can of worms, it'd be wiiiiide open right now!!

Fructose and cholesterol is still hotly debated but the long and short of it right now is this: fructose is fruit sugar and in moderate amounts is absolutely fine (as in getting the fructose as part of your daily 5 portions). But fructose is increasingly used as a 'natural' sweetener either on its own or as high-fructose corn syrup so if you have a highly processed diet, you will be unwittingly ingesting massive amounts on a daily basis.

Fructose has been shown to raise both overall and LDL (bad) cholesterol significantly, but generally only when it's eaten in large amounts.

A glass or two of juice a day won't hurt you. But a highly porcessed diet that contains a lot of fructose (as well as the high GI carbs that go with them) will lead to an increase in heart-disease.

Ben and Jerry's ice cream contains high-fructose corn syrup. Ever since I found that out I haven't been able to enjoy a bowl. I feel so betrayed

rubadub

If I cannot taste the difference I do not pay it. If I can then it depends on the price difference.
Be careful of fruit "drinks", many are now coming in tetra packs and look like normal fruit juice, quick look at ingredients will show if it is just basically ready diluted kiaora, i.e. 5-10% juice with citric acid, sugar & water. Tesco "healthy living" drinks are in tetra packs and are just water juice & sweetners and other crap.

Also many "value" products are lower in calories than even the specifically branded "healthy" "lowcal" versions. i.e. they are watered down versions and do not want to bring your attention to it. e.g. tesco value salad cream vs tesco healthy living salad cream.

And I also figure many tesco "normal" and tesco "value" products are the EXACT same.

Make fruit smoothies with real fruit, nicer than concentrated stuff anyday. Cant beat the zing of real apples that you never get in that clear concentrated juice.

Mr Magnolia

That's kind of what I suspected. Thanks g'em.

Kintarō Hattori

Hmnn well I always look at the ingredients before I buy a carton of juice to make sure there's nothing else there that shouldn't be there. I like to drink alot of juice certainly more than one carton a day, I don't drink that much water, I know I should, but I can't bring myself to spend nearly €3 on the majority of juice's that are 'freshly' squeezed instead of concentrate.

So basically there is little nutritional value to concentrated juice? I'm drinking too much at more than one carton per day?
I know I could get a juicer but that's not a possibility as I don't have the time to go and get the fruit and then juice it.

What has anyone found to be the best value on non concentrated juice? Tesco have some Pink Grapefruit stuff that I buy for about €2.19 and Dunnes used to have some pressed stuff that was about €2 a carton but they have been increasing the price.

Mr Magnolia

Whatever about value for money eo980, look after your teeth. Those levels of fructose could do damage to the enamel.

ali.c

eo980 wrote: »

What has anyone found to be the best value on non concentrated juice?

Aldi/Lidl have an okay range of non concentrated juices at an okay price AFAIK. Been ages since i bought them though, one of them do a 750ml carton which i remember thinking was odd

rubadub

eo980 wrote: »

I'm drinking too much at more than one carton per day?

A litre+ per day? that is a lot, that is 1kg, so like eating over a kilo of fruit. Apple & orange juice is around 11% sugar, so 110g of sugar from your juice alone.

eo980 wrote: »

What has anyone found to be the best value on non concentrated juice?

Tesco & supervalu sometimes have bramble hill pressed apple juice which is cheap, sometimes 2 for 1 deals. Squeeze fresh pressed apple juice is around the €2 mark and nice. Not from concentrate but still is heat treated to preserve it, so probably has less nutrients, but has a nice zing to it.

If you want to splash out get M&S 48hr fresh pressed pineapple juice, the one in the 500ml bottle, though the carton is nice. I would say the 48hr goes under less processing. Very expensive though.