Some health professionals suggest limiting the amount of fruit juice given to young children, diluting juice with water, or offering fruit in solid form. This advice is based largely on a well-publicized study linking large amounts of fruit juice in preschoolers' diets to short stature and obesity. Researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, finds no relationship between juice intake and growth. They concluded that there is no prevalence of obesity and/or stunted stature in children who consume 12 ounces or more of fruit juice daily. The study was funded in part by Gerber Products Company

Pediatrics January 1, 1999 103: 58-64

COMMENT: Anyone interested in a CLASSIC example of junk science? I would encourage you to go to your library or the Pediatric journal web site and read this article. There are not many things in life I am sure of, but one of them is that juice is harmful to nearly everyone, ESPECIALLY children. The high sugar content will play havoc with their neurotransmitters and is one of the main contributing factors to ADHD (hyperactivity). It will also contribute to colds, dental decay and chronic ill health. I am surprised that such a flagrant prejudiced study funded by a major supplier of children’s juices could be published. It defies belief. I cite the article as an example of some of the "junk" you will be exposed to in the media, such as newspapers or television or radio. They will cite this "definitive" study as proof that juice is actually good for you and you should not worry at all, when nothing could be further from the truth. When you hear or read contradictory reports like this, EXAMINE the source document to confirm the details of how this conclusion was reached. If you get stuck and you see a conflicting story you can always send the details to me and I would be glad to clarify the issues and help provide a truthful understanding to the topic. As a closing summary, remember that fruit juice is NOT good for you. Small amounts, taken occasionally, is not a problem, but do NOT get into the habit of drinking juice daily or worse yet allowing your children to have juice. Would you give them a glass of Kool Aid with EIGHT teaspoons of sugar in it? There really is not a significant difference between that Kool Aid and the juice.