FAQs about Juice and a Flat Belly Diet Plan

One of the most popular misconceptions about juice is that it can and should be included as a healthy alternative to water. But drinking juice can actually wreck your success on a flat belly diet plan. In fact, drinking most beverages other than water can cause belly bloat, weight gain, water retention, or even dehydration, as counter-intuitive as it may sound. So sticking to water is your best bet for rapid weight loss.

For more information on why juice isn't a healthy alternative to water, we've outlined our most frequently asked questions on the subject below.

 


Q. Is juice a healthy alternative to drinking water?

A. Though juice may seem like just liquid fruits or vegetables, it is a type of processed food. And as with all processed foods, juice contains additives, preservatives, and fillers—especially sugar—that can be harmful to your body and detrimental to your diet. If you are having trouble losing weight and drink a lot of juice, try eliminating it from your diet and see if the problem is resolved. Because juice is high in sugar and in calories, it is often a hidden source of weight gain issues for most dieters.

Q. If my juice is organic, that makes it OK, right?

A. Obviously, any organic product will have fewer pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals than a non-organic food product. So in that sense, organic juice is better for you than non-organic juice. But the real culprit behind weight gain isn't the pesticides, it's the sugar. That's your main enemy when it comes to losing weight and getting the flat belly of your dreams. And unfortunately, juice is teeming with sugar, even when it's organic.

Q. Is the sugar in juice all-natural, and therefore OK?

A. If you've found a brand of juice that promises that no cane sugar, corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners have been added, you may think that makes it OK to enjoy on a healthy eating plan. But even fructose, the natural sugar that fruit contains, can contribute to weight gain. When you eat a whole apple, you ingest the fructose but also vitamins, minerals, and fiber that keep you healthy and which your body needs to function well. If you drink juice, you lose most of these benefits, which means you are just drinking straight sugar, and that is not OK for weight loss.


Q. What if my juice is fortified with vitamins and minerals?

A. Your body can recognize the difference between a natural source of a vitamin or mineral and a manufactured one. It will not use the manufactured source as efficiently or completely as the natural one. So drinking orange juice fortified with calcium is not as healthy as eating a salad made with dark green vegetables, which are naturally high in calcium. Choose the most natural source for your vitamin intake, and don't rely on fortification to give your body what you need.


By swearing off juice, you can increase your health and vitality and get a flatter belly in no time. Make water your go-to beverage and you will see the results for yourself.