I’m Going Completely Naked! Snack Review: Naked Juice Green Machine

Beverages are all too often the place where sneaky and unnecessary sugar and calories go to hide. A person could go crazy trying to find a delicious drink, free from artificial sweeteners and additives! But, not if I have anything to do with it. I’ve found an alternative and it involves going completely Naked.

The Naked Juice Company has promised to make juices and smoothies with no less than 100% juice. Not juice "drinks” that are only 15% juice …100% juice! There’s so much juice in these Naked smoothies that each 15.2 oz bottle contains an entire pound of fruit, which is equal to three of your required daily servings. That’s a lot of fruit. In fact, Naked Juice is even sold in the produce section! What are the chances that you were going have that much fruit today, huh?

I’ve had two of their flavors so far: Red Machine and Green Machine. Both were delicious, but Green Machine is certainly my machine of choice. Red Machine, also fantastic, is made with cranberries, pomegranate seeds, and a whole lot more. It has a sweet, bright, and tart taste that perks you up and fills you up, without making you feel too heavy.

Now on to Green Machine, shall we? As promised by its name, it is a deep green color, almost threatening, unless it reminds you of your old friends the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And while at first it appears just to be pureed vegetables, I beg: don’t let that put you off. Instead, let’s turn the bottle around and take a look together.

The Fruit

• Apple Juice
• Mango Puree
• Pineapple Juice
• Banana Puree
• Kiwifruit Puree

And of course, responsible for that beautiful green color is this impressive list of valuable super green veggies, most of which, if bought at a vitamin store, would cost a small fortune.

Green Machine Mix

• Spirulina
• Chlorella
• Broccoli
• Green Tea Extract
• Spinach
• Echinacea Purpurea Extract
• Barley Grass
• Wheat Grass
• Odorless Garlic
• Natural Flavorings

This ingredient list is simple, and pure. No chemicals with unfamiliar names I can’t even pronounce; no corn syrup or refined sugar. It’s all from nature, nice and simple. And it’s all mixed together in a deliciously filling and thirst-quenching drink.

How Does It Taste?

Now that we know what’s in it, let’s discuss taste. My first sip was sweet, smooth, and surprisingly light. There was no chowing down on stalks of broccoli or plucking a ginkgo biloba leaf out from my teeth; instead, it was fruity and inviting. It tastes, in my opinion, better than any healthy drink I’ve ever had. Resist your urge to chug, sip it slowly and you’ll discover a bit of the pineapple, or a hint of banana. The aftertaste was fresh and put a real spring in my step, and it was just thick enough that I feel as though I’ve had a small meal. Fantastic!

Lots of Sugar, But It’s Good Sugar

In the interest of fairness, I feel obligated to address the sugar factor. Although Naked Juice only contains natural ingredients, there is a lot of sugar in each bottle from all that fruit. In fact, each bottle contains 50 grams of sugar, and even though that’s not refined sugar, it is a hefty amount for your body to handle all in one day. Some products use natural sweeteners to add sweetness, and apple juice is often one of those items. I would recommend that instead of drinking your Naked Juice all in one sitting, maybe have some with breakfast or as your afternoon snack and leave the rest for another day. Taking in too much sugar at one sitting can cause your energy to spike and then crash. Everything in moderation, and besides, your Green Machine will last longer if you don’t gobble it all up right away.

Where To Get It And How Much Does It Cost?

Enjoy Naked Juice in moderation – but do enjoy it! They can be found in delis and supermarkets. I’ve found them priced between $4.00-$5.00, though their website says they average $3.00, which isn’t bad for a pound of fruit, and if you take my advice and let it last for two days, that’s just about $2.00 for each snack. I’m off to buy another one! Check out more about Naked Juice on their website NakedJuice.com. They have a fun start-up story and tons of great flavors. I hope you try one, and I hope you enjoy it! Happy snacking!

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