Fruit juice is not a healthy replacement for actual fruits, even if it advertises to have "no added sugar".
The main difference is the pulp and fibre that is missing from the juice, which is necessary for slowing down the release of fructose into your bloodstream. It also tempers your insulin release.
Not only that, many commercial fruit juices and drinks contain added sugar, high-fructose corn syrup (or another of its cleverly crafted names), food dyes or artificial flavours. Unless the label says 100% fruit juice, you’re not drinking pure fruit juice!
How does fermentation reduce the sugar to zero?
Humans have fermented foods for thousands of years to preserve them and to improve their digestibility, nutrition and flavour.
Science now confirms what many cultures have known since ancient times – fermented foods provide numerous nutritional and health benefits. These include:
- Helping to pre-digest ingredients.
- Increasing levels of certain nutrients.
- Improving mineral bio-accessibility.
- Increasing bioavailability of antioxidants.
- Eliminating undesirable anti-nutrients like lectins and phytic acid.
- Creating unique metabolites.
- Supporting an alkalising effect on your body’s pH.
The bottom line is this: fermenting is one of the best ways known for turning ordinary fruits (and vegetables) into superfoods with no sugars!
With fruits, the process of fermentation “pre-digests” the foods and effectively removes the simple carbs as their glucose content converts to alcohol, which then quickly evaporates.
This is in stark contrast to some other non-fermented fruit and vegetable powders that may contain high levels of sugars, a potential concern for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
Dr Mercola's fermentation process is a precise one. It uses a highly controlled process that interrupts the fermentation at its optimal point. This controlled fermentation process ensures optimal quality.
The rare fruits in this Antioxidant Power...
The Fermented Fruit Blend includes well-known favourites like strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and apple. It also includes some lesser-known, yet vitally important fruits:
- Amla, or Indian gooseberries
Amla is the absolute “king” when it comes to antioxidant power. These green berries contain 75 times the antioxidant power of goji berries and 50 times the antioxidant power of fresh blueberries. - Noni
Noni, a lime-green fruit the size of a potato, grows on islands in the Pacific, including Hawaii and in tropical Asia. It’s been traditionally used in Polynesian cultures for many years. - Elderberry
Elderberry is the dark purple berry from the European elder tree. Because it’s a rich source of antioxidants, its use has grown in popularity in recent years. - Blackcurrant
With high concentrations of anthocyanins, polyphenols and other antioxidants, these tart berries support many different health systems
The final fruit in this blend is Fermented Pomegranate Juice.
Pomegranates have been savoured for thousands of years and are a symbol of hope and abundance in many cultures.
Pomegranate’s primary potential benefits come from its antioxidant content. The fruit contains significant amounts of three types of antioxidant polyphenols, including tannins, ellagic acid and anthocyanins.
When compared against nine other high-polyphenol beverages, pomegranate won top honour. Its antioxidant potency was found to be at least 20% greater than star performers acai and blueberry juices, and even green tea.
Pomegranate contains precursors for a metabolite called urolithin A (UA). Studies show UA may help slow down the loss of skeletal muscle strength and mass in individuals once they reach the age of 50. UA works by targeting and helping to clear out damaged mitochondria.
In essence, pomegranate may help support the growth of healthy new cells, which may play a powerful role against cellular aging and promoting longevity.
Research also shows pomegranate may be beneficial for supporting heart health, joint health, men’s health and much more.
The main concern with regular pomegranate juice is its sugar content.
One of the top brands of 100% pomegranate juice contains a whopping 34 grams of sugar per 8-oz serving. That’s eight teaspoons of sugar in just one small serving. If you drink the entire bottle (as many do), you get twice as much, or 16 teaspoons of sugar!
By fermenting the pomegranate juice in Organic Fermented Fruits, the sugars have been nearly eliminated, which is a real win for those who want to enjoy the many potential benefits of pomegranate without its plentiful sugar.
