Juice can start a fight. Some people love them because they taste sweet and calm, while others think they’re full of sugar. Is juice good for you? What you pick will tell you the truth.
Some products may look like sugary water, but others can be very healthy because they are full of vitamins and chemicals your body needs.
Picking the right juice is essential to ensure you get the health benefits without the extra sugar. The USDA’s MyPlate plan says that one cup of 100% fruit juice is one meal of fruit. But not every juice is the same. This guide will cover the healthiest drinks experts say will keep you hydrated and fed.
How To Pick A Good Juice
Before you go to the store and pick out a healthy juice, things you should remember are:
- Check for Minerals and Vitamins: Look for drinks that are high in minerals and vitamins, such as zinc, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin A. These vitamins are perfect for you and help your skin, nervous system, and other body systems.
- Choose 100% juice and avoid anything that says “juice cocktail.” Many cocktails have extra sugar and other unnecessary ingredients. If you want the real thing, go for pure 100% juice.
- Stay away from extra sugars: A lot of drinks have them, and they’re bad for your health and can cause your blood sugar to rise. If you want to find any secret sugars, look at the nutrition facts and the list of ingredients.
Here are the ten best drinks you can find in stores.
10 of The Best Juices For You
1. The Mighty Dozen by Suja
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- 90 calories
- Fat: 0 grams
- 20 grams of carbs
- 2 g of protein
- 18 grams of sugar
Suja’s Mighty Dozen is a handy, drinkable way to get your greens on days when you just can’t seem to eat enough. Spirulina, chlorella, and ginger are some of the healthy ingredients in this green juice.
Dietitians love it because it’s cold-pressed, organic, and has no added sugars. Julie Balsamo, MS, RDN, says that Suja’s cold-pressing method helps keep many enzymes and vitamins, so every sip is good for you.
2. Cherry Juice with Tart Cheribundi
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- Calories: 100
- 25 grams of carbs
- 25 grams of sugar
People are becoming more interested in tart cherry juice because it is good for you in many ways. There are a lot of vitamins in Cheribundi Tart Cherry Juice, and one bottle has the juice of sixty cherries!
Dietitians encourage it because it can lower inflammation, help muscles heal, and even improve sleep. This drink also has a lot of melatonin, which can help you sleep better. This is why runners and other busy people love it.
3. POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- 160 calories
- 39 grams of carbs
- 34 grams of sugar
Pomegranate juice from POM Wonderful is full of vitamins and is a powerhouse. One dose has 700 milligrams of polyphenols, which help the body fight off free radicals that are bad for it.
It also has a lot of potassium (about the same as a banana), which is good for your heart and lungs. Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RD, a dietitian, says this juice is great for people who want to improve their health because it is high in nutrients and low in extra sugars.
4. Beet It Sport
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- 88 calories
- 18 grams of carbs
- 3.7 g of protein
- 17 grams of sugar
Remember to drink beet juice! For runners, Beet It Sport is a great juice choice. Beets contain a lot of nitrates, which help your body’s energy and endurance when you’re working out.
They also contain a lot of potassium. Dietitians say that drinking beet juice before a workout is a great way to keep your heart healthy and help you go the extra mile during your workout.
5. Every Day Greens from Bolthouse Farms
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- 150 calories
- 55 grams of carbs
- Two grams of fiber
- 29 grams of sugar
The Bolthouse Farms Daily Greens juice is an excellent choice for a drink with both fruits and vegetables. Apple, cucumber, spinach, kale, and other vegetables are mixed in this juice to make a healthy drink.
It has a good mix of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and no extra sugars. With so many healthy ingredients, this juice is a great way to get more nutrients.
6. Red tart cherry juice from Santa Cruz
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- 120 calories
- 29 grams of carbs
- 24 grams of sugar
This is the second time tart cherry juice from Santa Cruz Organic has been on this list. It tastes a little sweet because it has a bit of apple and sour cherry.
Like other cherry drinks, it has a lot of melatonin, which is known to help people sleep better. Plus, it’s organic, which makes it an even better choice for people who want natural, raw foods.
7. Sunsweet Amazing Prune Juice
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- 180 calories
- 44 grams of carbs
- 4 grams of fiber
- 24 grams of sugar
Cherry juice might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of healthy drinks, but Sunsweet Amaz! Cherry Juice is full of fiber and good stuff for you.
It’s great for your gut health because this juice has a lot of fiber. Dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade says that prune juice has essential minerals and vitamins that help you stay healthy and normal.
8. Neat Pineapple Kale Zinc Juice from Natalie
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- Over 70 calories
- 18 grams of carbs
- 12 grams of sugar
Want something different? Natalie’s Pineapple Kale Zinc Juice tastes tropical because it has both pineapple and kale. This juice has a lot of zinc—one drink gives you 45% of your daily value.
It has a lot of calcium and vitamin D, essential for strong bones and teeth. This juice is both tasty and good for you because it has fruit and vegetables.
9. V-8 vegetable juice with low salt
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- 45 calories
- 9 grams of carbs
- 7 grams of sugar
If you want something tasty that is also low in calories, V-8 Low Sodium Vegetable Juice is hard to beat. This juice is an easy way to eat more vegetables because it is made from a mix of eight different plants.
It also has a lot of iron and only 45 calories per piece. Chelsea Newbrough, a dietitian, says that people who want more veggies should do this.
10. Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
How healthy is it (per serving)?
- 60 calories
- 18 grams of carbs
- 9 grams of sugar
Many cranberry drinks on the market contain extra sugar, but Ocean Spray Pure Cranberry Juice is different because it doesn’t.
This drink is made from only cranberries and has no additional sugar, so it’s an excellent choice for people who want to eat less sugar. Cranberry juice is also known to help keep the urinary system healthy, especially in women, by preventing UTIs.
Conclusion:
To find a healthy drink, look for ones made from 100% juice with no extra sugars. To get the most nutrition out of your drink, choose drinks that are high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. With drinks like Suja Mighty Dozen, Cheribundi Tart Cherry, and V-8 Low Sodium, you can enjoy tasty, healthy juices high in nutrients.