By Kia Edwards
The juice brand known as Naked has come under fire recently, which ultimately resulted in a fine. I want to look at Naked’s nutrients and use that to figure out if it’s a healthy option, irrespective of their legal issues. Is it really something worth drinking or are we falling for good marketing? Let’s find out, shall we?
The Good
Overall, the juices taste pretty good, but I would expect them to given their success. As far as nutrients go, they are low in saturated fat, with many containing no saturated fat. For example, here are the Nutrition Facts for Cherry Pomegranate Power:
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 8 oz (227 g)
Per Serving % Daily Value*
Calories 140 - Calories from Fat 0 - Total Fat 0.0g 0% Saturated Fat 0.0g 0Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 30mg 1% Carbohydrates 34.0g 11% Dietary Fiber 0.0g 0% Sugars 32.0g Protein 2.0g Vitamin A 2% · Vitamin C 100% Calcium 2% · Iron 3%
It’s not terrible. It’s low in salt, contains no cholesterol and it’s very high in Vitamin C. It also has some protein, calcium and iron in it. As an added bonus, it contains some B vitamins including riboflavin, niacin, and Vitamins B6 and B12. B Vitamins help your body to make energy from the food you eat. Deficiencies in B Vitamins can cause anemia. Needless to say, they are important, so it’s a plus Naked juices contain them.
The Bad
No matter how they want to spin it, Naked juices are very high in sugar. 32 grams of sugar is 128 calories, which is a lot to add to your diet if you’re drinking a bottle of this with your meals. Some of the other juices under this brand contain even more sugar. In addition to adding a lot of calories to your diet, all of this sugar will cause your blood sugar to spike and then drop fairly quickly, so even if you just use this as a snack instead of drinking it with a meal, you will likely find yourself feeling hungry not long after.
The Verdict
While it’s not the worst drink in the world, you don’t need to make a habit out of drinking Naked juices. Some people use it as a morning boost, which is perfectly fine. The main thing to remember is that you’re better off getting your nutrients from unprocessed sources so real fruits are always a better option. If you find that the juices are too sweet, or if you’re wary about the sugar (which, quite frankly, you should be), water the drinks down. It’s better than soda, but eating fresh fruits and using water as your main source of hydration is still a pretty good bet.
Click here to see NY Times article on benefits of fruit
Kia Edwards is a certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist who lives in New York City. She studied French and Economics at Colgate University, spent 15 years as a high-level competitive gymnast and 6 years as a gymnastics coach. Her business, La Fortesse At Home Fitness Training, helps clients get healthy with simple at home exercises and nutrition counseling. www.LaFortesse.com