You should have had a V8

Lately I have been TRYING to eat cleaner and healthier. I picked up a V8 for the first time in forever. I looked at the label and it says it has reconstituted vegetable juice and natural flavlorings. What the heck is that? Is sounds like recycled to me :)
Is V8 as healthy as it sounds or is it death cleverly packaged?

Replies

  • SaraBelle0312
    SaraBelle0312 Posts: 328 Member
    Anyone? Nutritionists?? Self Made Guru's??
  • CantarellaMiyani
    CantarellaMiyani Posts: 91 Member
    My biggest problem with V8 is the amount of sodium. It's comparatively huge. And "natural flavoring" can mean anything - a quick Google will show you how much leeway companies have with terms like that.

    Reconstituted vegetable juice, I imagine, is where they condense it, like into a tomato paste, and then add water again later. Saves on space and weight, for shipping, but isn't a terribly attractive concept.
  • beckajw
    beckajw Posts: 1,728 Member
    Lately I have been TRYING to eat cleaner and healthier. I picked up a V8 for the first time in forever. I looked at the label and it says it has reconstituted vegetable juice and natural flavlorings. What the heck is that? Is sounds like recycled to me :)
    Is V8 as healthy as it sounds or is it death cleverly packaged?

    It's healthy--at least as healthy as juice can be. It really does give you the vitamins and minerals found in vegetables. Of course, to make those veggies into a palatable drink, a lot of sodium is added. So, it really depends on which way you are looking at it. It's better than eating no veggies at all.

    The reconstituted vegetables is like OJ from concentrate. They take out the water to ship and then put the water back in.
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    I'm pretty sure its kind of like concentrated and then mixed back with water. Obviously its not going to have the nutrition or volume that its solid counter parts have but I wouldn't completely toss it out if getting your vegetables in is a problem.
  • SaraBelle0312
    SaraBelle0312 Posts: 328 Member
    Doesn't concentrate take out/destroy essential vitamins? I am not arguing just asking for more information. :)
  • SaraBelle0312
    SaraBelle0312 Posts: 328 Member
    Anyone?
  • All I know is I think they're disgusting, but I guess if you can't get fresh juice, then it's got to be better than nothing at all?
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    V8 is nasty as hell
    Why not just eat some fruit and veggies?
  • SaraBelle0312
    SaraBelle0312 Posts: 328 Member
    LOL, I'm addicted to veggies. I just picked it up today for gits and shiggles. ( I actually love the taste)
    I was just surprised to see that info on the label considering its supposed to be whole vegetables.
  • nickiog
    nickiog Posts: 187 Member
    its good for avoiding a hangover.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    V-8 juice is awesome! I love it! :heart: :drinker:
  • kayfrog
    kayfrog Posts: 109 Member
    Try Bolthouse Farms juices, they are 100% natural, filling and tasty.
  • padraigin67
    padraigin67 Posts: 78 Member
    I drink low sodium V-8. It is better for you and I do not drink it everyday just once in a while when I need that boost of energy.
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    I drink low-sodium V8 every few days. I like it a lot. Certainly a better choice than a can of soda.
  • iluvprettyshoes
    iluvprettyshoes Posts: 605 Member
    You're better off making your own veggie smoothies.

    You did just make me want a bloody mary though :)
  • masarc
    masarc Posts: 12
    My guess is it's not healthy. I know for one thing it has way too much sodium in it, but try researching it i'm sure some fitness guru somewhere has written an article about it.
  • Vince_1964
    Vince_1964 Posts: 359 Member
    The spicy V-8 is a pretty good base for a high-sodium bloody mary!
  • From concentrate, as far as I know, doesn't take out any vitamins or nutrients. It just gives it longer shelf-life.
  • Briantime
    Briantime Posts: 175 Member
    Not to hijack, but a related question...


    Has anyone tried the V8 Fusion? Supposedly a newer version of the regular V8, but with fruit juice added?
  • stlhrs
    stlhrs Posts: 67 Member
    I have 12oz of V8 every morning. I'm not a big veggie eater (getting better at that) and V8 gets me my "servings". Get the low-sodium version though. A splash of Tabasco does wonders for the taste (a little vodka and you've got a bloody mary...not in the morning of course).

    Thought about buying a juicer but then figured V8 was close enough and less mess.
  • jodi41086
    jodi41086 Posts: 240
    google a recipe for homemade v8!!! I bet you could do it. puree a bunch of stuff . It may be a little chunky but it may be good to dip celery in or something. I like mine spicy!!! Add franks red hot
  • I don't think V8 is healthy at all. The nutrients in veggies and fruits disappears quickly so there really isn't any nutrition in V8. You're better off making a smoothie with fruits, veggies, protein, etc
  • stlhrs
    stlhrs Posts: 67 Member
    Not to hijack, but a related question...


    Has anyone tried the V8 Fusion? Supposedly a newer version of the regular V8, but with fruit juice added?

    fusion is very good. kids love it over other juices.
  • tammyopolin
    tammyopolin Posts: 98 Member
    I've never had one of the regular V8 drinks, but I recently traded my beloved AMP for the V8 Pomegranate Blueberry +Energy drinks. They're a lot yummier than I expected them to be, and only 50 calories.
  • rose_mortem
    rose_mortem Posts: 147 Member
    I drink the low sodium kind when I can't afford to buy vegetables :laugh:
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    I don't know. If you hate fruits and vegetables, V8 may be an easy way to hold your nose and quickly get it over with. But ideally you should be eating enough vegetables in solid form. If you are, then V8 isn't really beneficial. I make a point of not drinking my calories (just water or seltzer for me). V8 is just bloody mary mix for me ;)
  • simplydelish2
    simplydelish2 Posts: 726 Member
    One of the better juice choices - but tons of sodium. You'll get more nutrients from eating veggies. But if you are on the run...it's not a bad choice at all.

    Reconstituted - that just means when they cook it down the water evaporates (along with part of the nutrients). When they bottle it they add the water back.

    Hope this helps!
  • krisiepoo
    krisiepoo Posts: 710 Member
    I like V8 and I drink it when I need a boost of energy, so much healthier than those energy drinks. I've tried the low sodium ones and the aftertaste is pretty nasty. I don't get a whole lot of sodium from other things, so the amount I get from the can is negligible in the whole scheme of things for me.
  • Feed_the_Bears
    Feed_the_Bears Posts: 275 Member
    Without breaking down the chemical composition and role in the body ... let's get practical.

    Life is about choices that are facing you at a given moment, barring what planning you're able to do. If you had complete control, choose water and fresh veggies over V8.

    If you had to choose between a V8 and fresh vegetables, pick the veggies. If you could choose fresh squeezed vegetable juice, pick that. If the problem facing you is to choose V8 or chips/fries, choose the V8. If you have to choose between pop and V8, choose V8. Water and fresh veggie would be best. V8 is there to get you out of a pinch when you have no other vegetable or beverage solution.

    I love V8 and Mott's Garden Cocktail :) low sodium varieties.
  • allisonmrn
    allisonmrn Posts: 721 Member
    The V8's seems to have a lot of sodium. I like to the greens and reds powders you can get from health food shops if I cannot eat enough veggies/fruit throughout the day. I have no idea if they are much better, but they were recommended by someone I trust. I feel like they give me a little boost. :-)