Drinking pure fruit juice in moderation provides essential nutrients and may actually help children maintain a healthy weight. Hundred percent juice consumption is a valuable contributor of nutrients in children's diet, and contrary to popular belief, does not make young children overweight or at risk for becoming overweight, Forbes reported.
Previous research findings have led to continued debate over the potential associations between drinking 100 percent fruit juice, nutrient intake, and overweight in children. In fact, children in the 2 to 3-year-old category who drank the most juice were nearly three times less likely to be overweight or at risk for overweight than children who drank no juice at all.
Analysing the weight of the evidence, there are 7 studies plus the current one that shows no association between 100 percent juice and overweight among children.
Even among the children who consumed the most juice, there was no association with the children being overweight or at risk for overweight. The results also indicate that juice consumption is not excessive among 2- to 11-year-olds. In fact, 57 percent of the children did not consume 100 percent juice at all, which is much higher than expected.