The Truth About V8 Vegetable Juice. Is it Good for You?

We have all come across the various V8 vegetable juice products offered at stores everywhere. Different flavors such as spicy hot and the low-sodium version are offered. Most of us have even tried one flavor or another over the years, with varying degrees of satisfaction. Some folks swear by it, some are indifferent, and some just do not care for the product at all. Let's take a good look at the ingredients and benefits to see how the product stacks up to the advertised claims.

Here are the actual ingredients listed on the V8 website. These ingredients and vitamins are for the original 100% pure vegetable juice version of their product.

Tomatoes: Vitamins A and C.

Beets: Natural sugar, low in calories.

Celery: Potassium, low in calories.

Carrots: Alpha and beta-carotene. (converts to vitamin A)

Lettuce: Flavor, low calories.

Parsley: Vitamins A, C, folate and potassium.

Watercress: Vitamin A.

Spinach: Iron, potassium, fiber, folic acid, magnesium , vitamins A and C.

One of the claims they make is that one 11.5 oz can of 100% pure vegetable juice is equal to a full plate of vegetables. Here is breakdown information from the V8 homepage website.

An 11.5 ounce can of V-8 contains 70 calories, 3 g of fiber, 11 g of sugar, 480 mg of sodium, 670 mg of potassium, 14g of total carbs. The vitamin breakdown is 60% RDA of Vitamin A, 170% RDA of Vitamin C, 4% RDA of Calcium, and 4% RDA of Iron.

The benefits of the vitamins listed in the ingredients are fairly well known, but here is a quick review. Vitamins A, C and E are all good antioxidants. Vitamin A is also good for your skin and eyes. Vitamin C is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Vitamin E is good for your heart and also helps your tissues stay healthy. Potassium helps to keep a healthy heart rhythm and keeps a good mineral balance in your body.

Their website states that every 12-ounce bottle of V8 100% Vegetable Juice contains 3 out of 5 of your daily vegetable requirements. The fiber content in V8 is not as plentiful as raw vegetables due to the refining and blending process involved, but the amount per serving is still quite beneficial. The sodium content is a little high at 480mg per serving, but is reduced to 140mg per serving in their low-sodium 100% vegetable juice product.

Who uses V8 vegetable juice?

Athletes use this product to replenish their depleted vitamin supply after a difficult event. Some marathon runners and bicyclists will drink this juice during their event for the easy absorption of vitamins and electrolytes. Serious walkers like this drink for the boost and general overall good feeling it provides. Folks that just have very strenuous hard labor jobs will also include V8 juice with their lunch.

Crash dieting folks use this juice in their liquid diet routine. The vitamin supply is kept up while at the same time the calories are reduced with each meal. Some people will also use V8 in their regular diet routine, using the drink as a filling supplement in place of a calorie loaded snack.

Health conscious people on the go tend to favor this drink because they just do not have the time to eat a properly balanced meal. Some parents also like to include this juice with their children's meals or a snack to ensure a better intake of vitamins and nutrients. Some schools also offer this drink as an option in their cafeteria.

Conclusion: Is it good for you?

Yes, it is good for you. While it is not a complete replacement for a balanced diet, it does have quite a few benefits. A nice energy boost as well as a filling snack comes with each serving. It also aids in electrolyte replacement caused from most strenuous activities, so it is a pretty good thirst quencher. The vitamin content does contribute quite a bit to ensure a healthy daily balanced diet, as well as keeping fiber in your system. The flavor is acceptable, but some children may not take to it right away. Most adults like the flavor, and there are several varieties to choose from.

Overall the product is well worth looking into to see if it fits anywhere into your daily routine, and good luck on your road to better health.

Thanks for reading.

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