Aside from eating fresh fruits, another way to enjoy the taste of your favorite fruits is by drinking fruit juice. It’s refreshing and it can quench your thirst, and you will still be able to enjoy some health benefits. If squeezing fruits to extract the juice sounds like a tedious and time-consuming job for you, there’s the convenience of purchasing concentrates from fruit juice concentrate suppliers UK consumers recommend. Get to know more about this option to see if it’s something that will work for you.
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How fruit juice concentrate is made?
There are different methods of concentrating juices that include evaporation, filtration, and pasteurization. Generally, fruits are washed thoroughly then scrubbed to remove dirt. They are then blended or crushed to turn them into pulp. The next step is to extract the water to get the fruit concentrate. However, water is added again in the concentrate, then the mixture is pasteurized before it goes to packaging for distribution in the market.
Is it healthier than “not from concentrate” juices?
Eating fresh fruits is still the best way to get all the nutrients that they contain. However, it doesn’t mean that there are no health benefits to juice concentrates. Aside from concentrates, there are also juices that are “not from concentrate”. The difference between the two is that after extracting juice from fruits, water is not removed from the latter, but instead, it goes directly to the pasteurization stage.
The process of getting the juice, whether from concentrate or not from concentrate, doesn’t affect their nutrient content. What makes them different is the other ingredients that they may contain. Not all fruit juices are the same, so be sure to make it a habit to check their labels. Find those without added sugars for a healthier choice.
The pros of fruit juice concentrate
Longer shelf life. Fresh fruits and fresh fruit juices can quickly spoil, so you need to consume them as soon as possible. Fruit juice concentrates last longer, so you can buy your supply and freeze them until you are ready to use them.
Better skin. Fruit juices are from real fruits. They also contain the benefits that you can get from the latter, including healthy and beautiful skin. Some of the fruits that have amazing effects on the skin are tomatoes, oranges, and strawberries.
Improves health. It’s not just good for the skin, but for your general health too. While it loses fibre due to processing, it still retains various nutrients and substances that are beneficial to the body like vitamins A and C, antioxidants and lycopene.
The cons of fruit juice concentrate
Some contain preservatives. As mentioned, there are fruit juices that contain preservatives and added sugars. Make a healthier choice by checking the labels and going for those without these unwanted additives.
Low in fibre. Natural fibre may be lost during the process. You may need to find it in other food sources if you need to take a higher amount of it.
You must dilute fruit juice concentrates in water before consumption. If you want to reduce the sweetness and calorie level of the drink, add more water than what the packaging recommends.
