Question:
How much V8 juice do you drink?

I found I absolutely love V8 juice. I have a hard time getting in 64 oz of water a day, and I'm wondering how much I can substitute with V8 Juice? I usually drink milk during the day, too, but I haven't been able to find any other liquid that I can tolerate well. Thanks!    — Heidi H. (posted on August 17, 2003)

August 16, 2003
The bulk of your 64 oz of fluids should be water or non-caloric liquids. Each 8 oz of V-8 gives you 1.5g of protein, 11g of carbs (2g of fiber) and 0.2g of fat in its 46 calories. But you also get a whopping 653mg of sodium which will cause you to retain fluids. Each 8 oz of skim milk will give you 8.35g of protein, 11.88g of carbs, and 0.44g of fats in its 85.5 calories. <p> I'd rather spend those calories on something that's going to fill my pouch. Have your glass of juice in the morning and maybe a glass of milk later, but try to limit it to that. Find a protein powder that mixes with water...JR (open RNY 07/17/02 -200 pounds)
   — John Rushton

August 17, 2003
Hi Heidi, At the direction of my cardiologist I drink one glass of low sodium V8 each day. 1 glass = 6-8oz. I have to drink it because of a chronic potassium deficiency and this gives my potassium level a boost. The other option is a banana, but I can't eat a whole banana. The low sodium brand has not caused me any additional edema issues. You really don't want to drink more than a glass a day of it though, or as my cardiologist said - it will cause you to bloat.
   — M B.

August 17, 2003
Mt dietitian said that anything I drink besides basically flavored water doesn't count fully toward my liquid intake. Things like milk and V-8 contain more than liquid, and so I'm only able to count half of these liquids in my daily intake. You would be better off to find a water-based drink (water with a touch of lemon and/or lime juice and maybe some Splenda, decaf tea or coffee (iced or hot), Crystal Light, s/f Kool-Aid, shaved ice with s/f syrup, s/f popsicles, etc.--there are lots of options).
   — Vespa R.

August 18, 2003
I sometimes drink up to 24 oz of V8 with lemon a day. I have noticed no swelling when I do this.
   — Charlotte G.