You've seen the beating soda has taken from nutritionists lately: Experts say the amount of sugar added to each can or bottle contributes to a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes (and also supplies empty calories that no one needs). Now, two U.K. researchers are making the case that even natural, no-sugar-added fruit juice is little more than a sugar delivery system that's almost as harmful as soda.
Writing in the journal Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, the researchers compared the nutritional stats of apple juice with those of a can of cola. About one cup of apple juice contains 110 calories and an eye-popping 26 grams of sugar. These calorie and sugar counts are almost identical to what you'd find in the same size serving of cola. The researchers also cited previous research linking regular consumption of grape juice to increased insulin resistance (a precursor to diabetes). This offsets any nutritional benefit offered by the vitamins and minerals in fruit juice, researchers wrote.
While no one is calling for an apple juice tax just yet, the researchers are suggesting that a cup of fruit juice no longer count as one of the five servings of fruits and vegetables you're supposed to take in each day. They also call for warning labels on fruit juice containers, which would clue consumers in to the high calorie and sugar counts.