Juice contains less fiber

Juice has less fiber than a whole fruit. The process of making juice, whether at home or in restaurants, involves removing the skin and vigorous washing to remove dirt. This processing leaves juice with much less fiber than the fruit it is made from. Moreover, to make juice, pasteurization is needed to kill all bacteria – even the good bacteria that can help your digestion. Pasteurization also destroys a large amount of the vitamins and minerals. Your child will get more nutrients and fiber, and a lot less sugar, by eating fruit instead. So it's better for your child to eat fruit and drink water.

Juice has unhealthy sweetener

Many brands of juice contain too much artificial sweetener to boost flavor. Sweeteners can cause dental caries in children. In fact, a lot of research attributes dental caries to the consumption of juice. In children, teeth begin to grow at approximately six months of age. If you give your child a lot of juice, their teeth are exposed to the sugar in juice, which increases the risk of cavities.

Watch your child’s weight

Juice can also contribute to obesity, because children fill up on it instead of other, healthier food. And too much juice can cause diarrhea. A study at the Baylor College of Medicine found no association between 100 percent fruit juice consumption and weight gain, but it has been shown to increase blood sugar and blood pressure levels as well as triglycerides. The sudden surge in acidic sugar can inflame the arteries, and too much inflammation in the body leads to arterial disease.

(Read also: 3 healthy recipes from Jamie Oliver)

Opt for pure juice

When you do give your child juice, choose products that are 100 percent juice. Juices that are particularly rich in vitamins and antioxidants include tomato juice as well as vegetable, pomegranate, grape, berries and orange juice.

Be careful when you give juice to children

An Infant’s digestive system is much more fragile than an adult’s. Thus, you should be careful when you feed infants juice. Homemade juice is not recommended for infants, as you are unable to pasteurize the juice and thus it’s possible that some bacteria or other unsavory items may get into it. Feeding children small bits of raw fruit is okay if you cleanse and peel the fruit carefully.

Tips when giving your child juice

If you want to give your children juice, bear these tips in mind:

- Instead of throwing fruit in a blender, boil it and use the “juice” that seeps into your steaming water from the fruit you have been cooking.

- Dilute juice with water (say, half juice and half water, or sparkling water).

- Avoid letting your child develop a habit of sipping on juice all day by serving it in an open cup, rather than in a bottle, juice box or sippy cup that can be carried around.

To ensure your child isn't drinking too much juice, follow these guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

- Birth to 6 months of age: Avoid fruit juice, unless it is used to relieve constipation.

- 6 to 12 months: If juice is given at all, limit it to 177 ml and serve it in a cup (not a bottle) to avoid tooth decay.

- 1 to 6 years: up to 177 ml a day.

- 7 years and older: up to 355 ml a day. (kes)

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