When you’re pouring yourself a glass of orange juice, there are a few ingredients you may be considering the risks of: sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and more. All in all, though, fruit juices are generally seen as fairly harmless (outside of the risk of weight gain, that is). However, a recent study published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis reveals that they may not be as safe as they seem; as it turns out, many types of fruit juices, alongside non-dairy milks, contain toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead.
So, what exactly does this mean, what are the risks at hand, and how can we mitigate them? To learn more, we spoke to medical toxicologist Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, FACEP, FUHM, FACMT of Poison.org. Read on for more information on this illuminating study and tips for how to keep yourself safe.
Toxic metals in fruit juice and non-dairy milk
The study, conducted by researchers at Tulane University, sampled 60 of the most popular beverages on grocery store shelves, from fruit juices to non-dairy milks like almond, oat, and soy, to measure the amounts of 25 different toxic metals. Options like sodas and teas were also studied.
Alarmingly, the researchers found that many of these beverages contained high amounts of arsenic, cadmium, manganese, nickel, selenium, and strontium. In fact, the amounts of these metals present in the tested beverages exceeded the amounts allowed in drinking water. Furthermore, 93% of the drinks were found to contain low levels lead.
Risks of heavy metals
According to Johnson-Arbor, consuming heavy metals like the kinds found in these drinks could be extremely dangerous. "Heavy metals can affect multiple organ systems in the body and cause harmful health effects, especially after long-term exposure to high concentrations," she says.
She outlined a few of the risks of each of these metals: "Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with development of skin rashes, nerve damage, and cancer, while long-term exposure to cadmium is linked to kidney disease and brittle bones," she says. "Selenium toxicity can result in nerve damage and hair loss." Yikes!
Who's at risk?
So, if you're a fan of almond milk or orange juice, is it time to kick these drinks to the curb for good? While it's always good to err on the side of caution, Johnson-Arbor says there isn't necessarily cause for too much alarm.
"While exposures to these metals can cause serious health concerns, many cases of heavy metal toxicity result from chronic, high-level workplace exposures to these elements," she explains. "People who consume fruit juices should often do so in moderation, given the relatively high caloric and sugar content often found in these foods. Adults who occasionally consume fruit juices are unlikely to develop heavy metal toxicity."
However, she tells us that "infants and young children are more susceptible to developing toxicity from consumption of fruit juices, considering their smaller body size." For this reason and more (including all the sugar in juice, which can lead to its own fair share of health risks), the American Association of Pediatrics However urges parents and caregivers to limit juice consumption by children to 4 ounces a day for those 1-3 years of age, 4-6 ounces a day for those 4-6 years of age, and one cup daily for children 7-18 years of age, she notes.
The bottom line
Ultimately, while the amount of heavy metals in these popular beverages is certainly alarming, a bit of fruit juice isn't going to kill you. Just like anything else, it's important to consume juice and non-dairy milk in moderation. And if you're a parent, you should take extra caution with the amount of juice your child drinks each day. If you follow these guidelines, everyone should be in good shape and safe from toxicity.
READ MORE: The ‘Toxic’ Beauty Ingredient You Need To Stop Using ASAP, According To Doctors
