Natural flavors can be found in a wide array of processed food products and must abide by stringent safety standards set forth by food regulators.
Since they contain no added preservatives or preservatives, this makes them a safer option for most people unless they have severe allergies or special dietary requirements. They can be found in various products including candy bars, granola bars and frozen dinners.
Cherry Juice
Cherry juice offers many health advantages, from improved sleep and faster recovery post exercise, to protection against osteoarthritis, inflammation reduction and improved brain health. When selecting cherry juice beverages it’s best to opt for unsweetened varieties as many commercial brands add excessive sugars which could negate its beneficial properties.
One study on older adults showed that drinking tart cherry juice twice daily helped improve sleep quality, possibly due to its natural chemicals such as melatonin and tryptophan, which help increase availability of those hormones in the body.
Tart cherry juice may help protect against osteoarthritis. A small study on people living with gout found that drinking it reduced flare-ups or worsening of symptoms by helping control build-up of uric acid crystals in joints. Furthermore, its potassium content helps lower blood pressure.
Strawberry Juice
Fresh strawberry juice is an excellent natural source of vitamins A and C. Additionally, its pectin fiber helps with digestion while its high water content promotes proper hydration levels. Strawberries also boast beneficial phytochemicals which act as powerful antioxidants to fight disease and help lower inflammation levels.
Make this delicious and quick strawberry juice using strawberries, water and a pinch of sugar combined in a blender until everything is pureed into an ideal texture. If desired, strain to remove any seeds.
This refreshing beverage can be served alone or used to elevate any salad, soup or sandwich dish. You can even mix it into cocktails and mocktails to enhance their flavors or use as a topping on desserts! Experiment by adding other fruits into the mix – mint and basil are particularly complimentary flavors to this strawberry juice variety, adding even further health benefits!
Pineapple Juice
Fresh pineapple juice can be easily prepared at home using either a fruit juicer or blender, and is refreshing, delicious, and has no additional sugars or additives found in store-bought varieties. Plus, its nutrients protect you against disease!
Pineapple juice contains an enzyme known as bromelain that activates your body’s natural ability to fight inflammation and reduce swelling, thin mucus caused by congestion or allergies symptoms and reduce macular degeneration risk, boost immunity function and lower blood pressure. Furthermore, copper contributes an immune boost as well as lower blood pressure.
As pineapple juice is low in fiber and high in sugar, excessive consumption may contribute to weight gain and disease. Furthermore, its acidity could trigger heartburn or reflux for those living with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Orange Juice
Orange juice is an increasingly popular breakfast drink that can add the finishing touch to sandwiches, salads, cocktails and desserts. Packed full of vitamin C – essential for immune support as well as supporting heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels – orange juice provides an essential daily dose.
However, not all orange juice is truly fresh-squeezed; many times it is made from concentrate and may contain artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Even when fresh-squeezed juice is produced using traditional methods, pasteurization and bottle-necking processes often remove many of its nutritional benefits and quickly turn rancid and spoil.
To address this problem, some companies use chemical compounds known as flavor packs derived from orange oil and essence to mimic real juice more closely. Although considered “natural”, these chemical compounds have been so heavily altered as to barely qualify as anything other than chemicals; each company has their own formula for developing their flavor packs.
