Fruit juices offer a flavorful change from water and a caffeine-free alternative to coffee and tea. The natural sweetness of many juices adds to their appeal. Pure fruit juices also provide a variety of valuable nutrients, including vitamin C, potassium and some B vitamins. While fruit juices are best used in moderation, some can help you increase your iron intake.
Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Juices
An 8 oz. serving of pineapple juice provides 0.78 mg of iron, and the same serving size of grape juice contains 0.63 mg, according to the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory. Both orange and pomegranate juices have only 0.25 mg of iron per 8 oz. serving, while that amount of grapefruit juice offers a tiny 0.06 mg.
Moderate Climate Fruit Juices
Prune juice is one of the best juices for iron. This juice contains 3.0 mg iron per 8 oz. serving. Although you may not think of tomato juice as fruit juice, the tomato is technically a berry and is also rich in iron. An 8 oz. serving of this juice provides 1.05 mg of iron. Because whole apricots and peaches are also relatively rich in iron, juices from these fruits also supply small amounts of iron. Other moderate climate fruit juices contain very little of this mineral. Apple juice gives you 0.30 mg per 8 oz. serving, while pear juice contains no significant amount of iron.
Benefits
Sufficient dietary iron is critical for the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the cells. In moderate quantities, fruit juices provide a quick, palatable way to boost your iron intake. Juices from citrus fruits, like oranges and pineapple, are particularly good juice sources for iron because they also contain ample amounts of vitamin C. This vitamin helps the body absorb iron.
Fruit Juice in Your Diet
Men ages 19 to 50 need 8 mg of iron daily, while women need 18 mg, advise health experts from the University of Maryland. That means for men an 8 oz. serving of iron-rich prune juice provides 37 percent of the recommended daily iron intake for men and 16 percent for women. Because fruit juices are often high in sugar and low in nutrients, try to limit your consumption to 8 oz. daily. Children ages 1 to 4 should drink no more than 6 oz. daily, advises pediatrician Dr. William Sears. In addition to drinking fruit juices, you can also use juice to flavor hot or cold cereals.
Considerations
For nutrition, 100 percent juices are better choices than fruit-flavored drinks, which may not contain real juice. Iron content in 100 percent juices and juice blends varies, and some commercially available juices contain added iron. Check the nutrition facts label on the package to determine exactly how much iron a particular juice product contains. To get the most iron, avoid mixing juice with tea because the tannin in tea interferes with iron absorption.
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