The juice is loose--and no longer linked to overweight

An analysis of 21 studies about fruit juice consumption in children found there was no link between overweight status and drinking fruit juice.

The article was published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine by Carol E. O'Neil, PhD, MPH, and Theresa A. Nicklas, DrPH. They found there is "no systematic association" between the two. Fruit juice in moderation helps children get needed nutrients.

The findings go against much conventional wisdom, often backed up by the studies being analyzed, which linked unwatered fruit juice to the obesity epidemic. Of course, consuming too much of any food, fruit juice included, can lead to overweight. But in moderation, a glass of apple or orange juice doesn't need to be shunned, or watered down.