Wow, talk about a firestorm. The headlines this morning were eye-catching for me because I knew this was going to generate some good commentary.
We have already received a lot of questions and comments via email asking the opinion of the Blue Heron Team regarding the media fight going on.
In case you missed it, the FDA recently unloaded on Dr. Oz, vilifying him for his assertion that many commercially produced apple juices, such as those you’d drink or give to the grand kids, contain unacceptable amounts of arsenic in them.
Arsenic, you say? And thus the controversy begins. Images are immediately called to mind of rat poison and painful deaths. This is indeed a little harsh and morbid, so one can see why this issue has gotten such a huge response.
However, there are different kinds of arsenic. There is organic, which is an element that naturally occurs in air, water, soil, and even fruits and vegetables. It is easily absorbed, fairly benign, and passes quickly through the body without negative effects.
Inorganic arsenic is the kind that kills. The FDA contends that Dr. Oz’s study doesn’t distinguish between the two and that it’s okay to have higher levels of organic arsenic.
So I guess a little poison is okay as long as it’s the right kind?
This is actually a similar comment to what I have seen in the forums over this issue. People are inherently distrustful of big business and the government, and any time they feel like the two are in cahoots, there are problems with trust.
Given that Dr. Oz is also a renowned cardiologist, best-selling author, and alternative medicine expert, it begs the question if they are maybe correct in their distrust of the FDA’s stance.
But that’s not even the reason I bring up the controversy or why I am not a fan of commercially produced apple juice.
What was noticeably absent from the points that the FDA, Dr. Oz’s camp, and the public were all making was that regardless of whether or not there are unsafe levels of arsenic in the juice, it’s just not a good choice for consumption if you fall into one of the following categories:
–Â You are a child
–Â You are a senior
–Â You are trying to lose weight
–Â You have diabetes
–Â You have IBS, Crones, ulcerative colitis, ulcers or other gastrointestinal problems
–Â You are underweight
–Â You have kidney issues
–Â You are in any way concerned about getting optimum nutritional value from the things you put in your mouth
Well, this basically rules out the majority of the people I have ever known, most people I have never met, and everyone in between.
Yes, this is a bold statement, but when you are faced with the decision to either drink this or any other commercially bottled juice, you have to weigh the facts.
These are truths, no matter whose side you are on, except maybe for the profit-hungry juice producers:
Apple juice is extremely high in sugar. It may be a fruit sugar, which is less evil than cane sugar, but it is still sugar, and unless you dilute the juice with a lot of water, it’s simply too much for the body, especially if consumed by a toddler or a diabetic.
The juicing process destroys most of the nutrients the producers claim their products are so high in. Then, the ‘fortify’ it with supplemental nutrients to replace what was lost during the bottling process.
These nutrients, because of the extremely high sugar and acid content, are quickly oxidized as soon as the bottle is opened. Unless you are drinking the whole bottle within 24 hours of opening it (regardless of whether or not it’s refrigerated), you are losing everything they packed into it to make the label look healthy.
You might as well dissolve a pound of sugar in a gallon of water and drink that, since the nutritive value is now the same.  This not only keeps overweight people heavy, but it can cause diabetic people serious health problems.
Because of the sugar, people with touchy digestion can wind up with horrible diarrhea from even small amounts of apple juice. This is one reason why doctors and nurses make sure to mention that fruit juice is NOT considered a clear liquid during recovery from an illness.
Studies on the effects of juice drinking versus water on tooth enamel are startling, at best. Even with proper brushing 3 times a day, the assault has been launched. Apple juice is harder on tooth enamel than soda pop, sports drinks, and artificially flavored sugared drinks.
These are just some of the reasons a bottled juice is a bad idea for most people. Yes, it’s tasty and people love it. But if you really want to keep all the nutritive benefits and toss all the risks, including arsenic or whatever else might be in there, juice your own. Get locally grown produce (not apples from countries whose quality oversight and safety are questionable at best) and run them through a juicer.
An investment in a commercial juicer quickly pays for itself if you drink a lot of bottled juice. Drink it within a few hours of juicing and you’ll keep the vitamins, lose the pathogens, and even reduce waste in the environment.
For more info on natural methods to beat type two diabetes, IBS and weight gain, explore my natural guides today.
Warm regards,
Christian Goodman
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Does this apply to Ocean Spray Cranberry juice and pommegranite juice too?
Don’t apple seeds contain a small amount of organic arsenic (if my memory serves me right). Thes are probably being juiced along with the rest of the apple!!! Is that where we are getting this residue??
We are supposed to believe the FDA when they approve toxic fluoride in our water and their approved and properly used prescription drugs are the 4th leading cause of death in the US?
I know California mandates the pasteurization of all fruit juices that would kill off most, if not all, beneficial bacteria, vitamins and minerals.
They also added almonds and yet allow almond growers to say RAW when they have been heated to a high degree. I know I reduced my own comsumption of almonds after that.
This came into being after a batch of almonds had some kind of health problem a number of years ago. Don’t remember specifically what it was.
What we need is an FDA that is truly effective at protecting us from toxic as well as ineffective drugs.
Benefit vs risk ratio? If you are dead, you won’t care what the ratio is.
Is it also true for organic juices apple,grape,and fruit punch.
Christian is right and Dr Oz is right: It’s better to drink your juice freshly squeezed yourself and as soon as possible after juicing. What is even more important, however, is the issue of blood sugar. Most people drink their juices – whether fresh or bought – fairly quickly, so the effect is the same as pouring a gallon of sugar into your system – and your blood sugar levels go through the roof. This is why it is so important for diabetics not to drink fruit juices of ANY sort, and why non diabetics have a hard time as well.
DON’T drink fruit juices of any sort, DON’T drink tap water – only filtered, and you’ll find yourself much healthier.
The FDA is truly incompetent and Dr. Oz is not relevant–he is merely the messenger. The FDA is a menace and the arsenic issue is real since it has been confirmed by labs–they are simply lying and this is what they do all the time. The FDA has no interest in health and the entire mandate has become so twisted–it is really best to close down this agency. There must be a public outcry over their incompetence. The FDA does so little to help the public interest–why do they exist besides to approve with a rubber stamp any drug whose effectiveness is only 5% better than a placebo. I do not like Dr. Oz but that is not the issue–he is not the question. It is only about arsenic in imported apples from China and the arsenic is real and there are elevated levels of numerous toxins imprted from China–this necessitates a trade embargo until it is fixed. The FDA will not do this and the Commerce dept. would block it. So let’s close the Commerce dept as well. Then we can close down the Dept. of Education and all the poison pushers.
Yes, Christian is right all the way about apple juice.
Why does the F.D.A. ALLOW ANY OF THIS POSION OR ANY THING ELSE IN ANY OF ARE FOOD.What else do you all think is in are FOOD that WE ALL don’t,even KNOW ABOUT!!. It is so scary that we all really don’t know what we all eat, or drank!!!.
Yes, bureaucracy has the nation stymied, as BIG government is the mother of bureaucracy, we must start there. Reduce the size and power of government, and thereby reduce the power of the bureaucracy over the people, and the people will once again have some control over the “will” that is increasingly oppressing us. The national bureaucracies, FDA, FCC, etc., have been given too much power, and should be enabled no farther than to provide consultation, advice, or perhaps to mediate in industry squabbles by providing laboratory and research assistance. As you may have heard, or if a student of history, even seen, power corrupts (an old saying, “absolute power corrupts absolutely” applies).
We are seeing the “fruits” of our complacency people, and another evidence of bureaucratic failure in the ineffective education of our young. (Part of the “plan” to empower big government?) The result, big business and big government wielding way too much influence and control over vital areas of our resources for the sake of private bottom line profit.
I know this started out being about commercially bottled fruit juice, so I’ll end with my agreement with those above that advocate consuming fresh squeezed juice in moderate quantities. I also reiterate the great value in filtering and purifying tap water (use of a UV equipped reverse osmosis filtering system is best). Another bureaucratically mandated addition to our water supply, Chlorine, is fine until it gets to your tap, but is dangerous for consumption. The levels in most municipalities is far beyond realistic safety levels, despite what the government says, and is actually carcinogenic. Bathing and swimming in it is not a good idea either, as it is easily absorbed through the skin. I could go on, but this is enough for now. Thanks, for your time and attention to my rant!!
I truly appreciate the comments about the dangers of arsenic in juices. I have been sick last week for drinking too much apple juice and not eating enough.my physician still can not visualize what was wrong with me.I read somewhere to drink more water instead. I did it and I feel much better.
I thank you for your comments
jacqueline Piou (a young senior).
This makes a lot of sense!
Bill;
What about cider ? I guess that would also be the same.
Why not just eat an apple ?
your comment that fruit sugar is better than cane sugar is not true. Fructose is worse than glucose because the body can’t metabolise it like it does with glucose and it goes straight to the liver, etc. Sugar is 50% glucose and apple juice is 100% fructose. Same applies to orange juice, all juices in fact. Eat the fruit, get some fibre.
The rest of the article is fine.