Does juice count for your daily fruits and veg?

Everyday I carry around just a little bit of guilt for robbing my body of all those fruits and vegetables people tell me I should be eating. How does anyone find the time to meet all those dietary recommendations anyway?

Subsequently, I pat myself on the back whenever I remember to drink a little juice -- as that should count against my daily requirement, right?

Apparently not. There's research that does support labeling juice as a healthy beverage (healthier than soda or beer at least), but it still can't provide all the benefits you get from eating good 'ol fashioned solid fruits and veggies. While juice is certainly a good source for nutrients like vitamin C and beta-carotene, they don't contain the anti-oxidants found in skins and peels -- which work to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and some age-related conditions.

So buy a banana, grab some carrots for a snack, eat a few grapes with lunch, put some lettuce on that burger -- you get the idea. Finding creative ways to get those recommended daily servings will be better for you in the long run, and juice just won't cut it.