Is orange squash bad for you?: Hi, I am new... - Healthy Eating

Healthy Eating

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Is orange squash bad for you?

Ogwen profile image
24 Replies

Hi, I am new to this forum.

For over a month now me and my partner had been eating healthy. Though we kept up drinking Pepsi Max. It was a drink I used to love.

Recently we gave it up and decided to drink orange squash because we thought it would be better for us. Without too much TMI I suffer with my stomach when eating things like tomatoes and possibly bananas. So i cut them out and have had no problems with stomach issues. Since drinking squash I have been having problems with my stomach again. And the squash is the only thing I've changed.

I admit I drink it quite strong, but looking on the label it's full of sweeteners and sulphites etc.

Also if squash isnt great, what can I do to make my water taste nicer. I'll admit our tap water isnt the nicest.

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Ogwen profile image
Ogwen
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24 Replies
Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator

I wouldn't tend to recommend drinking squash, as you say, it's got all kinds of chemicals in it.

I use a water filter for tap water, it makes it taste a lot better. You can also flavour with orange/lemon slices, mint leaves and things like that.

Ogwen profile image
Ogwen in reply to Cooper27

We did wonder if a water filter was worth getting. We didn't know if it would improve the taste.

Thanks that's great, might try the orange slices

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator in reply to Ogwen

Ours gets rid of some of the chlorine taste but it does still have a little taste to it. My dad recently bought a "zero filter" and said it left next to no taste, but it is expensive - filters are about £15 each and only last about 3 months.

Winford_howard90 profile image
Winford_howard90

I wouldn't think its good to have orange squash daily , you should also have a habit to drink normal water which gives benefits to our health in many ways. Avoid adding this flavors to water usually as it contains some chemical into it. You can try to have light lukewarm water also. Or else try to add lemon in water which will add some taste as per your choice.

Hi Ogwen welcome to the forum and I don't drink squash as there are so many healthier drinks out there made with real fruit and no E no's.

I hope that you enjoy being a member of the community. 😊

Ogwen profile image
Ogwen

Thanks for the welcome Jerry, and thanks for the advice everyone.

I dont know why, but I used to think squash was a good way to drink water. But when you look into it they aren't great!

I've been drinking water today and yesterday, though it's been mineral water.

I will look into getting a water filter and try a bit of orange or lemon in it. Would the glucose powder add some electrolytes?

in reply to Ogwen

I would have thought and one of the best drinks for electrolytes is coconut water.

Hey Ogwen, I've been drinking nothing but tap water since mid March and I find it's fine as long as it's nice and chilled 😊

AndrewT profile image
AndrewT

Dear Ogwen,

Is a Water Filter 'Worth It' you ask.... Well I can only speak, as I fin d. I DO find them 'helpful'- that is to say, I get less 'Chlorine' taste and, in fact, less 'background' flavour to my drinks, and cooking. Can Make a Suggestion, to you, please? Take some water, I use filtered, then add either a SMALL amount of Fresh Juice, or some Fresh Cut Lemon/ Lime, and place it into a litre jug and, place it into the Fridge. The gentle/ subtle flavour, of the Fruit/ Juice, will 'infuse' into the water. This makes a lovely, almost Sugar and Acid, free drink. By the way, IF you DO use Squash, use a 'double strength' one but add VERY little. I sometimes keep a Jug, of this, in my fridge. Incidentally, if you do want a Sweetener (those shoes, really suit you....Sorry wrong 'sweetener'🙄) the use 'Stevia Leaf Extract'. I have one called 'Truvia', which is a compounded one- low Carbohydrate, only 'Polyols' (no I don't know either!). You only need, about a third, of the amount.

Anyway Do 'try' these ideas Ogwen, especially the fruit.

AndrewT

If squash upsets you then don't buy it and perhaps add lime and lemon fruits to your water instead.

springcross profile image
springcross

Sulphites will tend to that to you but not sure about sweeteners, although that wouldn't surprise me. Have you tried the pasturised (nothing added) orange juice from the cold aisles in the supermarkets?

Ogwen profile image
Ogwen in reply to springcross

I do have orange juice every day, but only a small glass full because of how sugary it is. But I did think of adding a splash to water too!

springcross profile image
springcross in reply to Ogwen

In the freshly squeezed you can buy from supermarkets, there is no added sugar - just check on the carton or bottle to ensure this.

Fran182716 profile image
Fran182716Prediabetic

We have a Brita water filter jug in the fridge, and I add a small splash of fresh fruit juice or slice of lemon or lime for flavour

S11m profile image
S11m

I eat oranges - but even they are not the perfect food, as they contain fructose - but they are OK in moderation.

Ogwen profile image
Ogwen in reply to S11m

I seem to have a problem with the sugars in some things. As well as tomatoes my stomach doesn't react well with apples or bananas They bloat me up and all that

Nugger profile image
Nugger

Wouldn’t touch squash with a barge pole!

My mum used to always give it to grandkids before I told her it’s just crap & told her to buy real orange juice or any other real fruit juice, asda does some really nice ones for a quid a bottle!

luztifer profile image
luztifer in reply to Nugger

REAL Fruit juice is far from healthy and there are numerous studies, reports and even documentaries on this.

1, to get a glass of 'JUICE' you need to squeeze LOTS of oranges Many More than you could ever eat in one sitting.

2, the amount of fruit sugars in a bottle is High because of the amount of oranges used

3, You get none of the fibre and all of the sugar,

With squash you can dilute the sugars and sulphites to minimise the impact.

4, Most squashes are made from highly processed concentrate where the fruit has been pulverised, sheared and minced on an industrial scale.

So unless you 'TOLD' your mom to dilute the Orange Juice you 'TOLD' her to get you are doing your kids more harm than good and more harm than any squash.. Perhaps you should offer her an apology.

Nugger profile image
Nugger in reply to luztifer

How did you guess, of course I told her to dilute it, actually I juice my own grapefruit from our tree & one grapefruit will fill a cup!

The only reason I juice the grapefruits is to freeze it as the tree produces so much

Subtle_badger profile image
Subtle_badger in reply to Nugger

Don't trust any orange juice you haven't squeezed yourself or watched someone else squeeze. There is no difference between commercial orange juice and squash these days. Actually, the juice maybe worse, because the squash will have less sugar.

The big companies like tropicana deoxygenate the juice, which increases it's shelf life to about a year, but removes most of the colour and flavour. But that's ok,because they simply get engineers to create flavour packs and colours. And that suits them fine, because now the juice has a consistent colour and flavour all year round, targetted to their target market. The flavour can be whatever they like.

The flavours and colours are made from components of orange juice or skin, so you have something as artificial as squash, but legally allowed to call itself juice and say 100% orange.

If you want your kids to have oranges, give them oranges.

Plenty of references out there, eg gizmodo.com/dirty-little-se...

Midori profile image
Midori

It's probably the Sulphites used as a preservative. I can't drink squash, gives me asthma. Would it be better if you drank Juice? The UHT ones are good, with very little in preservative.

TheDrivenSnow profile image
TheDrivenSnow

I steer clear of squash: I'm allergic to sulphites (so wine's a no-no, too). Try pure orange juice, or, if you find that too strong (?), try diluting it down to a squash-like consistency.

What I like to do, though, is make up a pitcher of what I call a yoghurt drink: Add ice-cold water to yoghurt (plain or fruit), mix well and have it on tap, so to speak, in the fridge. Add ice cubes when serving/drinking. A real summer cooler. And so healthy.

utep99 profile image
utep99

No it is not bad for you. Most say it is much sweeter than the others.

luztifer profile image
luztifer

Try herbal teas or fruit slices to flavour spring water leaving out the sugar will ensure it is healthier, Honey is excellent for its anti Viral/bacterial properties but hardly vegan so maybe a dash of Plant based sugar like maple.. make up a jug and chill it before drinking,,

There are so many fruits and teas to try and all of them will cost not a lot more than quality concentrated fruit juice or squash and are far healthier.

soon be time to harvest them for free, Rosehips, Hawthorn Berries, Blackberries etc Its not hard if you are willing to put in a bit of effort or change what you buy..

Good Luck

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