When is the best time to drink juice? Before or after food

Search for this question and you will find many answers: on an empty stomach, only in the morning, never at night. Most of them give no source. So what do health services actually say?

The short answer: with a meal

The NHS advises having fruit juice and smoothies at mealtimes, not as a snack between meals, because the sugar in them can harm your teeth. So the best time is simply with breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Morning or night?

We found no good evidence that one time of day is better for your body than another. The advice from health services is about how much you drink and having it with food, not about the clock.

How much?

The NHS suggests no more than 150ml of juice and smoothies a day in total, and counts them as only one of your five portions of fruit and vegetables, however much you drink. The Harvard School of Public Health also suggests one small glass a day.

Before or after exercise?

After long training, juice can help put back water and some energy. For what to drink around sport, see What to drink after exercise: water, juice or a shake?.

Keep fresh juice cold

Fresh juice made in a shop is often not pasteurised. The US Food and Drug Administration says juice like this should be kept in the fridge, so put it in the fridge as soon as you get home.

Sources: NHS, 5 A Day: what counts; NHS, Eight tips for healthy eating; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Healthy Drinks; US Food and Drug Administration, Talking About Juice Safety.