5 ways to keep nutrition intact in juices

Since time immemorial, juices have received a bad rap for being too sugary, containing preservatives or being too low on nutrients. Nutritionists and scientists working specifically on juicing fruits have now discovered that these claims are nothing more than myths, and that juices can be as nutritious as the whole fruits that they come from. According to research, the nutritional content of a fruit juice largely depends on the storage of fruits and the method of extraction and preservation. Here are some ways through which the nutrition in juices is safeguarded while juicing:

The right sourcing
In order to ensure that fruits are at their nutritious best when juiced, juice brands need to work closely with farmers while they grow these fruits. When fruits are ripe for the picking, the juice extracted is extremely high on the nutrient scale as well. If the fruits and vegetables are not of the best quality, the juice won’t be either

Post-harvest management
Post-harvest management entails the storage of fruit after it is harvested. Once plucked, fruits can start losing nutrition if they are not stored and transported under the right conditions. In order to create the optimal conditions for fruits post harvesting, juice brands can ensure that fruits and vegetables are plucked at the right time, when they are absolutely ripe, and then transferred to temperature controlled environments so they do not experience any nutrient loss. 

Impeccable hygiene
Hygiene plays a major role in maintaining the nutrition levels in juices. If the fruits or vegetables are stored or juiced in a polluted environment, there are high chances of the juice being contaminated. In order to avoid such a situation, leading juice brands are now operating in cold, temperature controlled environments to avoid the growth of microorganisms. Factories are fitted with HEPA filters that trap pollutants and sanitize the environment. 

Cold extraction
Cold extraction is a method of juicing that retains almost a hundred percent of the nutrients in juices. The method is even better than the traditional cold pressed method of juicing. While cold pressed juicing involves exposing juices to heat and pasteurization, cold extraction is a gentle way of extracting juice and pulp from fruits and vegetables. It is a pulping mechanism where the fiber content of the juice is controlled and can be increased. The juice is extracted gently in a low oxygen environment. 

High Pressure Processing
High Pressure Processing (HPP) is another method that is used to preserve the quality of juices. Normal fruit juices display high microbial growth within minutes of being extracted. To prevent this growth, most juice brands utilize methods such as adding preservatives or pasteurizing. These are not viable options, as they lead to the loss of nutritive value. Through these methods, it can be ensured that juices are highly nutritious as well as delicious. When juices retain their natural flavors, there is no need for brands to add sugar or artificial flavours. Drinking juices can therefore be as good as biting into fruits. 

Avanti Deshpande - The writer is an House Nutritionist, Second Nature Fruit Juices