Study: Kids drink too much fruit juice

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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. pediatric experts recommend one glass of juice a day for children, even 100 percent fruit juice, but many children drink two glasses, researchers found.

The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health asked parents of young children of all economic levels about their children's juice consumption.

The study found 35 percent of parents report their children 1-5 years old have two or more cups of juice on a typical day. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended limiting fruit juice in children ages 1-6 to one serving a day.

"It is important to limit juice consumption in young children because there is such a strong link between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and child health problems like obesity and early tooth decay," Sarah Clark of the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit at the University of Michigan and associate director of the National Poll on Children's Health said in a statement. "For many obese children, sugary beverages make up a large proportion of their daily energy intake."

Forty-nine percent of parents whose household income was less than $30,000 annually reported their children drink two or more cups of juice per day. However, 23 percent of parents with household incomes of $100,000 or more report that their children drink two or more cups of juice per day, the study said.

"Parents may think juice is an easy way for their child to get a serving of fruit, but it's often difficult to pick out 100 percent fruit juice amid the sugar-sweetened juice drinks," Clark said, "But the AAP recommendation is for one serving of juice a day -- even 100 percent fruit juice."