Arsenic in Your Juice ?

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can contaminate groundwater used for drinking and irrigation in areas where it’s abundant, such as parts of New England, the Midwest and the Southwest. Consumer Reports went shopping in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York in August and September 2011, buying 28 apple juices and 3 grape juices. Their samples came from ready-to-drink bottles, juice boxes and cans of concentrate. Five samples of apple juice and four of grape juice had total arsenic levels exceeding the 10 ppb (parts per billion) federal limit for bottled and drinking water. Levels in the apple juices ranged from 1.1 to 13.9 ppb and grape juice levles were even higher, 5.9 to 24.7 ppb. Most of the total arsenic in the samples was inorganic. Inorganic arsenic is a carcinogen known to cause bladder, lung and skin cancer in people and to increase risks of cardiovascular disease, immunodeficiencies and type 2 diabetes.

To reduce your family’s risk you can do the following:

1) Test your water. If your home isn’t on a public water system, have the home’s water tested for arsenic and lead. To find a certified lab, contact your local health department or call the Federal Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

2) Limit children’s juice consumption. Nutrition guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants younger than 6 months shouldn’t drink juice; children up to 6 years old should consume no more than 4 to 6 ounces a day. Diluting juice with water can help meet those goals.

3) Consider your food. Buying certified organic chicken makes sense because organic standards don’t allow the use of chicken feed containing arsenic.

In closing, as always it is buyer beware. Read your labels and look up what the chemical make up of that ingredient is. If it doesn’t sound healthy to you it probably isn’t.

Healthy Martin website is designed to assist persons and organizations for natural health, alternative health, holistic health in Martin County – Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Palm Beach County – Jupiter FL, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast of Florida to find healthy alternatives. We encourage health organizations and alternative health businesses to use this website to help promote natural, holistic, organic and alternative health lifestyle choices to America.