What is the healthiest juice brand to drink? Your ultimate guide

October 26, 2025 •

4 min read

Studies reveal that many commercial "juice drinks" are loaded with added sugars, which can be detrimental to health. This startling fact highlights the necessity of understanding what is the healthiest juice brand to drink and prioritizing nutritional value over flavor alone.

Quick Summary

Choosing the healthiest juice involves reading labels for 100% juice and no added sugar, and prioritizing vegetable-based options. Processing methods like cold-pressing preserve nutrients. Making an informed choice requires a deep dive into ingredients and individual nutritional goals.

Key Points

Read Labels Carefully: Always opt for products explicitly labeled "100% juice" to avoid high sugar juice drinks and beverages.
Avoid Added Sugar: The healthiest juices contain only natural sugars from fruits and vegetables, with zero added sweeteners.
Consider Processing: Cold-pressed juice preserves more nutrients compared to standard pasteurization due to minimal heat exposure.
Prioritize Vegetables: For lower sugar content, choose green and vegetable-based juices, following an 80/20 vegetable-to-fruit ratio.
Watch the Sodium: When buying vegetable juice, like V8, choose the low-sodium variant to maintain a healthy intake.
Moderation is Key: Even healthy, 100% juice should be consumed in limited quantities, as it lacks the fiber of whole fruit and can be high in natural sugars.

What to Look for in a Healthy Juice Brand

Determining what is the healthiest juice brand to drink is more complex than simply picking a name off the shelf. The key lies in understanding what makes a juice truly healthy and how to read the labels effectively. There are several critical factors to consider beyond just taste and price.

Read the Label: 100% Juice vs. Juice Drinks

The first step is to distinguish between 100% fruit or vegetable juice and products labeled as "juice drinks" or "juice beverages". The latter category often contains mostly water, added sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavors, providing little nutritional value. Always look for the "100% juice" label, which signifies that the drink contains only the liquid from fruits or vegetables with no added sugars or other unnecessary ingredients.

Prioritize Low or No Added Sugar

Even 100% juice contains natural sugars. The healthiest options, however, have zero added sugars. Brands like R.W. Knudsen and Suja are recognized for offering a wide array of 100% juice products with no added sweeteners. For vegetable-based juices, like V8, it is important to choose the low-sodium variety to avoid excessive salt intake. A good rule of thumb, especially for fruit-based juices, is to consume them in moderation—a 4-ounce (1/2 cup) serving of 100% fruit juice can count as one serving of fruit.

Prioritize Vegetables Over Fruits

To minimize sugar intake, consider juices that use a high ratio of vegetables to fruit. Health experts often recommend the "80/20 rule," which suggests using 80% vegetables and 20% fruit for a nutrient-dense, lower-sugar drink. Brands like JRINK and BluePrint offer pure vegetable juices that fit this criteria, providing high nutritional value with minimal sugar content.

Understanding Processing Methods

Processing plays a significant role in a juice's nutritional content. Cold-pressed juices, for example, use hydraulic pressure instead of heat to extract liquid, which proponents claim preserves more vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Brands like Pressed Juicery and Raw Generation utilize this method. While flash pasteurization, used by brands like Uncle Matt's Organic, also aims to preserve quality and flavor, it's important to remember that cold-pressed and raw juices are generally considered the least-processed option, retaining maximum nutrient integrity.

Comparison of Popular Juice Brands

To simplify the decision, here is a comparison table of several popular brands based on key health metrics.


Brand	Product Example	Key Nutrients	Processing	Added Sugar?	Organic Option?
Suja	Uber Greens	Vitamin A, C, K, Potassium	Cold-Pressed, HPP	No	Yes
Evolution Fresh	Organic Super Fruit Greens	Vitamin A, C, Calcium, Iron	Cold-Pressed, HPP	No	Yes
V8	Low Sodium 100% Vegetable Juice	Vitamin A, C, Potassium	Pasteurized	No	No
Pressed Juicery	Greens 1	Vitamin A, C, Calcium, Iron	Cold-Pressed, HPP	No	Yes
Uncle Matt's Organic	Pulp-Free Orange Juice	Vitamin C, Folate	Flash Pasteurized	No	Yes
R.W. Knudsen Family	Just Tart Cherry Juice	Vitamin C, Potassium	Pasteurized	No	Yes

The Healthiest Juice Types and Brands by Category

Focusing on specific juice types can help narrow down your choices and target particular health benefits.

Green Juices

Best Brands: Suja, Pressed Juicery, and Evolution Fresh consistently receive high marks for their organic, cold-pressed green blends. These juices are typically rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like potassium.
Best for Budget: V8 Low Sodium 100% Vegetable Juice is a highly affordable option, providing vitamins A and C in a convenient, shelf-stable format.

Fruit Juices

Best Overall: When it comes to 100% orange juice, Uncle Matt's Organic is often cited for its fresh, balanced flavor, attributed to organic fruit and flash pasteurization.
Best for Specific Benefits:
- Pomegranate Juice: Rich in antioxidants (polyphenols) that benefit heart health and memory. Look for brands like POM Wonderful.
- Tart Cherry Juice: A popular choice for athletes due to its potential to reduce muscle soreness, and a natural source of melatonin for sleep. Choose unsweetened brands like R.W. Knudsen Family.
- Cranberry Juice: Contains proanthocyanidins that may help prevent UTIs. Opt for 100% cranberry juice without added sugars, as many commercial versions are high in sweeteners.

Vegetable Juices

Best for Heart Health: Beet juice contains nitrates that are converted to nitric oxide in the body, which can help lower blood pressure. Many people prefer it in shot form due to its earthy taste.
Best for Antioxidants: Tomato juice is an excellent source of lycopene, a potent antioxidant, and vitamin C. For packaged versions, choose a low-sodium option like V8 Low Sodium.

The Ultimate Healthiest Option: DIY

For those with the time and equipment, juicing at home provides the most control over ingredients and nutrition. This allows you to follow the 80/20 vegetable-to-fruit ratio, incorporate a wide variety of nutrient-rich produce, and avoid all commercial processing methods. It ensures you get the freshest, most nutrient-dense product possible. While commercial cold-pressed juices come close, homemade offers unparalleled customization and freshness.

Conclusion: Informed Choices Reign Supreme

There is no single brand that can claim to be the definitive healthiest juice brand to drink. Instead, the best choice depends on your specific health goals and a critical look at product labels. The most nutritionally dense options are typically cold-pressed, 100% juice, with no added sugars and a high vegetable content. Brands like Suja, Pressed Juicery, and low-sodium V8 consistently offer good choices. By prioritizing transparency and checking for clean labels, you can confidently select a juice that best supports your wellness journey. Always remember that juice should complement a diet rich in whole foods, not replace them. For further reading on dietary guidelines, consult reputable resources like the Dietary Guidelines for Americans [https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/] for comprehensive nutrition information.

Frequently Asked Questions

A "100% juice" product contains only the juice extracted directly from fruits or vegetables with no added sugars or other ingredients. A "juice drink" or "juice beverage" is typically a mixture of water, added sugars (like high-fructose corn syrup), and flavorings, with a much lower percentage of actual fruit juice.

Cold-pressed juice is extracted using hydraulic pressure instead of heat, which is thought to preserve more of the fruits' and vegetables' vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. This makes it a more nutrient-dense option compared to traditionally pasteurized juices.

Brands like Suja and Pressed Juicery offer a variety of organic, low-sugar options, particularly in their green juice lines. For vegetable juice, V8 Low Sodium 100% Vegetable Juice is a budget-friendly choice with lower sugar and salt content.

Dietitians often recommend limiting 100% fruit juice to a small, 4-ounce serving per day. You can also dilute it with water to increase the volume without adding more sugar. For low-sodium vegetable juice, an 8-ounce serving is generally acceptable.

100% orange juice can be a healthy choice, as it's a great source of Vitamin C and other beneficial compounds. However, it contains concentrated natural sugar and lacks the fiber of a whole orange, so portion control is important.

Tart cherry juice is known for its ability to help reduce muscle soreness in athletes and contains melatonin, which can aid in sleep. It's important to select an unsweetened version to avoid extra sugar.

Homemade juices offer maximum control over ingredients, allowing you to use organic produce and manage the vegetable-to-fruit ratio for minimal sugar content. While store-bought cold-pressed juices are convenient and nutritious, homemade provides the highest level of freshness and customization.