Is vegetable juice as good as whole vegetables for meeting the number of recommended servings a day?

Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

Vegetable juice can be an easy way to increase the amount of vegetables in your diet, but you shouldn't routinely use it to replace whole vegetables.

Most adults should eat the equivalent of 2 1/2 cups of vegetables a day. The exact amount you need depends on your age, sex and level of physical activity. Any type of vegetable counts, whether it's raw, cooked, fresh, frozen or canned. Vegetable juice counts, too. Just make sure it's 100 percent vegetable juice and low in sodium.

While vegetable juice has plenty of vitamins and minerals, it's lower in fiber and less filling than is a serving of most whole vegetables. Fiber is important because it may help prevent constipation and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

June 28, 2018 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Navigate the farmers market
  2. Why is BVO in my drink?
  3. Calories in sushi
  4. Cuts of beef
  5. Fast food: Tips for choosing healthier options
  6. Fast food tip: Go green
  7. Fast-food tip: Have it your way
  8. Fast-food tip: Keep it small
  9. Fast food tip: Opt for grilled items
  10. Fast-food tip: Skip the fries
  11. Fast-food tip: Watch what you drink
  12. Grass-fed beef
  13. Health-boosting nutrients: Antioxidants
  14. Healthy breakfast options
  15. Healthy fast food? Yes, it's possible
  16. Holiday recipes
  17. Meat and poultry
  18. How to use food to help your body fight inflammation
  19. Is sea salt healthier than table salt?
  20. Keep your breakfast cereal healthy
  21. Sample menu
  22. Menu planning
  23. Menus for heart-healthy eating
  24. Credible nutrition information
  25. Organic foods
  26. Organic foods: What the labels mean
  27. Sea salt vs. table salt
  28. Antioxidants
  29. Guide to gourmet salt
  30. Guide to beans and legumes
  31. Snack attack? Try these 100-calorie snacks
  32. Sodium nitrate in meat: Heart disease risk factor?
  33. Sugar challenge: Cut the sweetness for 2 weeks
  34. Thanksgiving recipes
  35. Think outside the cereal box
  36. Try these quick, fun breakfast options
  37. Ultraprocessed foods: Convenience at what cost?
  38. Vegetarian recipes
  39. What are added sugars?
  40. What are the leanest cuts of beef?
  41. What do expiration dates really mean?
  42. Understand clean eating
  43. What is BPA?
  44. What sell-by dates really mean
  45. Where's the lean beef?
  46. White whole wheat