Despite its convenience, juice is a far less healthy option than a real piece of fruit. Not only does the juicing process destroy a number of fruits’ beneficial compounds and antioxidants, it removes nearly all of the natural fiberDeconstructing a Fruit Serving: Comparing the Antioxidant Density of Select Whole Fruit and 100% Fruit Juices. Crowe, K.M. & Murray, E. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2013 Jun 26. pii: S2212-2672(13)00514-5.. All the sugar with none of the fiber? No, thanks — fiber carries a myriad of digestive benefits and is crucial for slowing the absorption of the fruit’s sugar and keeping its glycemic index low. This, the scientists hypothesized, may be why juice increases the risk of diabetes, and why a high intake of fruit juice has been linked to childhood obesityReducing childhood obesity by eliminating 100% fruit juice. Wojcicki, J.M. & Heyman, M.B. American Journal of Public Health, 2012 Sep;102(9):1630-3.Potential nutritional and economic effects of replacing juice with fruit in the diets of children in the United States. Monsivais, P. & Rehm, C.D. School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2012 May;166(5):459-64..