Should I Be Eating...?

Jam is a pureed fruit spread that is high in concentrated sugar, which people with type 2 diabetes should avoid, as it can cause a sharp rise in blood sugar. If you suffer from migraines choose jams made from nontrigger fruits (i.e., berry, cherry, and peach flavors). IBS sufferers take note: Some people with IBS are sensitive to sources of concentrated sugar and experience discomfort after eating them, so stick to low-sugar jams. If you have celiac disease, read labels and look for gluten-free jams. Learn more about condiments, sauces, and flavorings.

Jelly is a clear fruit spread made from sweetened fruit juice. Jelly is high in concentrated sugar, which people with type 2 diabetes should avoid, as it can cause a sharp rise in blood sugar. If you suffer from migraines choose jellies made from nontrigger fruits (i.e., berry, cherry, and peach flavors). IBS sufferers take note: Some people with IBS are sensitive to sources of concentrated sugar and experience discomfort after eating them, so stick to low-sugar jelly. If you have celiac disease, read labels and look for gluten-free jelly. Learn more about condiments, sauces, and flavorings.

Fruit juice is a highly concentrated source of fruit sugar, which can raise your blood sugar quickly, and is therefore to be avoided if you have type 2 diabetes. Because fruit juice is also calorie-dense and low in fiber, people trying to lose or manage their weight should dramatically limit their intake and choose fresh, filling whole fruit instead. Fruit drinks, which are not the same as 100 percent juice, are worse because they contain added sugars and significantly less nutrition. Because vegetables are naturally lower in sugar than fruit, freshly made vegetable juice is lower in calories than fruit juice and can be a helpful way to "squeeze" more produce into your diet. However, bottled and canned vegetable and tomato juice is also not generally recommended as it contains high amounts of sodium, which increases your risk of hypertension. IBS sufferers take note: Some people with IBS are sensitive to sources of concentrated sugar like fruit juice and experience discomfort after consuming them. Read more about fruit and vegetable juice.

Bottled cranberry juice is typically a blend of cranberry juice mixed with sweet fruit juices like grape, apple, or pear to balance out the tartness of pure, unsweetened cranberries. The cranberries in the juice provide antioxidants that may help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, as well as urinary tract infections. If you have type 2 diabetes, it is best to avoid cranberry juice and other fruit juices because of the high sugar concentration. IBS sufferers take note: Some people with IBS are sensitive to sources of concentrated sugar like fruit juice and experience discomfort after consuming them. Read more about fruit and vegetable juice.

Grapefruit juice is a good source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps prevent and manage arthritis, cataracts, macular degeneration, and maintains healthy hair and skin. If you have type 2 diabetes, though, it is best to avoid grapefruit juice and other fruit juices because of the high sugar concentration. Because grapefruit juice and other citrus juices are possible triggers for IBS and migraine headaches, avoid them if they are problematic for you. Note: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can affect how some medications (most commonly cardiac meds) are absorbed and metabolized, so always speak with your pharmacist about your medication/grapefruit interactions. Read more about fruit and vegetable juice.

Orange juice is a good source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps prevent and manage arthritis, cataracts, macular degeneration, and maintains healthy hair and skin. If fortified with calcium, orange juice may also help to maintain strong bones, reduce blood pressure, and alleviate PMS symptoms. If you have type 2 diabetes, it is best to avoid orange juice and other fruit juices because of the high sugar concentration. Because orange juice and other citrus juices are possible triggers for IBS and migraine headaches, avoid them if they are problematic for you. Read more about fruit and vegetable juice.

Prune juice is the juice of choice for alleviating constipation because it's rich in the sugar alcohol sorbitol, which has a natural laxative effect. Prune juice is also a good source of potassium, a mineral that may help reduce blood pressure and the risk of osteoporosis. If you have type 2 diabetes, though, it is best to avoid prune juice and other fruit juices because of the high sugar concentration. And if you suffer from diarrhea-predominant IBS, it's likely you'll need to avoid prune juice because it's a possible trigger. Read more about fruit and vegetable juice.

Tomato juice is a good source of potassium, a mineral that may help reduce blood pressure and the risk of osteoporosis. However, bottled tomato juice is typically very high in sodium, which can increase your blood pressure, so it's best to drink low-sodium or no-salt-added tomato juice. If you suffer from migraine headaches, be aware that tomato juice is a trigger for some people. Read more about fruit and vegetable juice.