Role of fruit juice in achieving the 5-a-day recommendation for fruit and vegetable intake

Although there is strong evidence that consumption of fruit and vegetables is associatedwith a reduced rate of all-cause mortality, only a minority of the population consumes5 servings a day, and campaigns to increase intake have had limited success.This review examines whether encouraging the consumption of fruit juice might offera step toward the 5-a-day target. Reasons given for not consuming whole fruit involvepracticalities, inconvenience, and the effort required. Psychologically, what isimportant is not only basic information about health, but how individuals interprettheir ability to implement that information. It has been argued that fruit juice avoidsthe problems that commonly prevent fruit consumption and thus provides a practicalmeans of increasing intake and benefitting health through an approach with whichthe population can readily engage. Those arguing against consuming fruit juice emphasizethat it is a source of sugar lacking fiber, yet juice provides nutrients such asvitamin C, carotenoids, and polyphenols that offer health-related benefits. Actively encouragingthe daily consumption of fruit juice in public health policy could help populationsachieve the 5-a-day recommendation for fruit and vegetable intake