Post by : Saif Rahman

Dr Siddhant Bhargava, the celebrity nutritionist who advises stars including Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday and Sara Ali Khan, has cautioned followers against equating fruit juice with whole fruit. He argues that many commercial and homemade juices offer little of the nutritional value found in intact fruit.

Posting on social media, Dr Bhargava observed that 'a fruit without its fibre, vitamins and minerals becomes little more than sweetened water.' He noted a common misconception: people often swap eating fruit for drinking juice and assume the benefits are the same.

He highlighted the critical role of dietary fibre, which slows sugar absorption and helps blunt sharp blood sugar rises. When fruits are processed into juice, most of that fibre is lost, so sugars enter the bloodstream more rapidly and can strain the body's metabolism over time.

Dr Bhargava also pointed out that exposure to heat and air during juicing reduces sensitive vitamins and minerals. The end product, he said, is often coloured, sweet liquid that can give the false impression of being nutritious. He criticised the marketing that presents many juices as 'wellness' products despite their limited nutrient profile.

Medical experts generally agree: consuming whole fruits is preferable to drinking juice. Apples, oranges, papayas and bananas, for example, provide fibre that supports digestion and prolongs satiety. Packaged juices, in contrast, frequently contain added sugars and preservatives that can contribute to weight gain and other health issues.

As a practical suggestion, Dr Bhargava encouraged simple habit changes: 'When you crave juice, have the fruit instead,' he advised. He recommended choosing seasonal fruits in their natural form to ensure intake of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Health professionals warn regular consumption of many market-sold fruit juices can raise risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes and dental decay. Because juices tend not to satisfy hunger the way whole fruit does, people may drink larger quantities and inadvertently increase their sugar intake.

Dr Bhargava's message has resonated online, with nutritionists and consumers alike echoing the view that fresh fruit, salads or fibre-rich smoothies are superior choices to filtered or store-bought fruit juices. The broad takeaway is straightforward: not every product labelled 'fruit-based' is genuinely healthful — whole fruit remains the simplest, healthiest option.

#Wellness