Juice is kind of a big deal in the wellness world (or haven’t you heard?).
Here atSELF, we have a complicated relationship with juice.
In particular, the health halo around juice as a wellness lifestylething.
Andrew Purcell / Thinkstock
And that’s a little weird!
But then there’s the issue of pasteurization, and the rising popularity of unpasteurized or raw juice.
Because juicing fans arent talking about swigging the juices you typically find on grocery stores shelves.
Leszek Czerwonka / Getty
Let’s get into it!
But these dangerous bacteria can be present in unpasteurized juices as well.
And that’s especially true in bottled unpasteurized juices.
Suriyub / Getty
The presence of microbes, both harmless and pathogenic, can be common in crop fields, she says.
So, yes, thats true in some instances.
Pasteurization can reduce some of the vitamin C and folate content of juices, she says.
Kaycco / Getty
Pasteurization also has no impact on other nutrients, like potassium levels, she says.
The safety benefits exceed the potential reduction in nutrient content.
The safety benefits of pasteurization are better for your health than the nutrition benefits of unpasteurized juices.
JGI/Jamie Grill / Getty
Many cheesemongers swear up and down that some raw cheeses can taste much better than pasteurized cheeses.
It’s a whole thing, and for those people going raw isn’t really about health at all.
The same may be true for some people who choose raw juices: They may just prefer the taste.
And there could be something to that.
HPP, on the other hand, gives juices a more fresh flavor.
However, its more costly than heat pasteurization, which is why most companies dont opt for it.
Only it’s possible for you to assess whether you’re comfortable with the risk.
Just understand that its not 100 percent safe.
Pasteurized juice is a low-risk product, Chapman says.
Unpasteurized juice is riskier.
