TIME: Juice is Not a Health Food

You're not doing your health or weight a favor by drinking juice, a new article in TIME magazine concludes. It's a beverage packed with sugar, and if you were to strip it of its vitamins, it's comparable to a can of Coke.

Most produce naturally contains sugar, and fruit typically packs more than vegetables. Without fiber in the mix, juice is essentially just the natural sugars and water found in its ingredients, says Scott Kahan, the director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington, D.C. Though natural sugar may seem harmless, your body does little to distinguish between the sugars in an apple versus those in a piece of candy, Kahan says.

TIME: The case against juice is stronger than ever

Want to know what's better to drink, to avoid extra sugar? Check out our low-carb beverage guide.