Fruit juice isn’t just unhealthy — it’s toxic

I’m not a fan of juice in any way, shape, or form. In fact, I don’t even think we should be eating much fruit. Not to burst anyone’s bubble, but most fruit — and especially fruit juice — contains as much sugar as most sodas. And sugar kills… even the natural kind.

But that’s a discussion for another day. Because today, I want to warn you about another reason never to touch fruit juice. And frankly, it’s terrifying…

Not a single juice is safe

Consumer Reports recently tested 45 fruit juices for heavy metal contamination. And get this: Nearly half came back with elevated levels of these toxins.

I’ve written before about how much mercury you’ll find in foods with high fructose corn syrup, as well as the arsenic you’ll encounter in rice. Needless to say, these hidden toxins pose health risks to everyone —especially children. Which is what makes this latest news particularly concerning.

According to the report, even small amounts of juice carry a risk of heavy metal toxicity. Which means that even just four ounces daily could harm your child. (Once again, let the record show that juice is NOT healthy for children, despite the persistent belief that it’s an acceptable alternative to more sugary drinks.)

Experts evaluated nearly 50 juices from two dozen brands — including Gerber, Minute Maid, and Mott’s — as well as organic products from popular stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

The focus of the study was on cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic levels. (These are the most commonly found heavy metals in foods.) Test samples included apple juice, grape juice, pear juice, and fruit juice blends.

The report found that every juice sample contained at least one of the heavy metals listed above. And nearly half contained “concerning” levels of cadmium, arsenic, or lead.

Of course, the juice business is calling the findings “needlessly alarming.” But it’s really just the tip of the iceberg…

Half a cup of daily harm

This latest research is a follow-up to a 2011 study, in which Consumer Reports exposed evidence of high levels of arsenic and lead in apple and grape juice. (And, in my opinion, this research was grossly under-reported — but that’s not surprising considering how this sort of information has a way of being kept quiet, especially when Big Food is involved…).

Among its other major conclusions, this disturbing report found that:

• Of the 21 juices with “concerning” levels of heavy metals, a third contained enough to cause potential harm to kids who drank as little as one half-cup per day. Another third posed risk to any child drinking one cup or more daily.
• Ten of these juices tested as risky to adults, too — with five of them doing potential harm at one half-cup daily, and five doing potential damage at one cup (or more) per day.
• Grape juice and juice blends were the most contaminated.
• Organic juices contained heavy metal levels similar to their conventional counterparts.

It would be practically impossible to purge heavy metals from the food supply entirely, as plants soak them right up from contaminated soils. But if you want my opinion, the term “concerning” isn’t nearly strong enough.

In case anyone’s forgotten, heavy metal exposure comes with a long list of serious risks: Lower IQ, behavior problems (like ADHD), and a higher risk of diabetes and cancer, to name a few.

We obviously can’t stop eating everything grown in dirt. But you could avoid any one of the above risks by passing on a drink that nobody ought to be consuming in the first place… and not just for your own health, but for the health of your children.

I get it… raising kids isn’t easy. But the sad truth is, the percentage of children with health problems today is the highest in history. That’s why I wrote Feed Your Kids Well, every parent’s guide to achieving optimum nutrition and ideal health for children. Click here to learn more, or order a copy of the book today.

P.S. This Sunday, March 24^th at 3:00 P.M. I’ll be hosting the biggest event of my 25-year career—my Conquer Your Disease Masterclass. During this exclusive Masterclass, I’ll personally fill you in on how to reverse some of the deadliest diagnoses you — or your family — might receive. This event has been four years in the making, and I’m thrilled that it’s nearly here. But I have to warn you — spots are limited! To find out more or to reserve your spot today, click here.

Source:

“Arsenic and Lead Are in Your Fruit Juice: What You Need to Know.” Consumer Reports, 01/30/2019. (consumerreports.org/food-safety/arsenic-and-lead-are-in-your-fruit-juice-what-you-need-to-know/)