Fruit juice is healthy. But, read the label.

Americans know they need to eat fresh fruits, vegetables and low prices. However, busy lives and high prices make it hard for them to do so. A drive-through window is quicker than going to a farmer’s market and buying organic lettuce, then making a salad. Unhealthy foods such as high-fructose corn sugar -; are less expensive than “whole,”Unprocessed foods

Fruits are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Fruit consumption has many health benefits. It can improve immunity and help with digestion.

Fruit juice is a convenient and affordable way to enjoy the health benefits of fruits while on-the-go. Not all fruit juices can be considered equally. Some fruit juices have added sugar and flavor, but very little actual fruit. Some fruit punches have as much sugar as cola.

Some fruit juice companies make nutrition labels more easily readable to help families make healthier choices. Old Orchard Brands “Healthy Balance”For example, a reduced-sugar juice line places nutrition information on its bottles so that customers don’t need to look closely. The company also produces a line flavored waters that contain fruit juices and added vitamins.

Amy Bragagnini MS RD, a registered Dietician, shares these tips with Americans who are trying to read juice labels:

1) Make sure you check the serving size. A majority of juices are 8 ounces in size. Some juices have 6-ounce serving sizes to make up for higher calorie content.

2) Check the sodium. While most fruit juices have low sodium, some vegetable juices do contain salt. Low-sodium diets should be monitored for sodium levels.

Reduced-sugar drinks are a good option. Consider only those with less than 50 calories per 8-ounce glass. Anything more and you’ll be in cola territory.

Visit www.amazon.com for more information www.HealthyBalance.com.