WASHINGTON – Some nutrition-conscious Americans swear by drinking juice to stay healthy. Others use it to cleanse their system. A new study shows eating fruit may be more beneficial.

The three most commonly eaten fruits – bananas, apples and oranges – have 25 to 32 percent more fiber than the average juice, reports The San Francisco Chronicle citing the University of Washington’s Center for Public Health and Nutrition 2012 study.

Much of fruit’s fiber is eliminated in the juicing process, the report says.

Researchers also say whole fruit satisfies hunger better than juice. Test subjects ate less cheese tortellini 15 minutes after eating whole fruit than those who drank juice.

WTOP’s Dick Uliano contributed to this report.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)