BP Risk in Adulthood Study: Drinking juice and sweet drinks in childhood can be costly! The risk of high BP may increase

This research has been published in the journal Circulation. In this, more than 25,000 people of America were followed for about 25 years. This is considered to be one of the longest studies of this kind. The research found that children and teens who drank sugary drinks two or more times a day had a 52 percent higher risk of high blood pressure in adulthood compared to those who drank these drinks less than three times a week. Whereas children who drank one and a half or more servings of fruit juice daily were found to have 35 percent higher risk of high BP.

Research has made it clear that this does not mean at all that eating fruits is harmful. According to the study, the form in which sugar is being taken is as important as its quantity, the natural sugar present in the whole fruit and the sugar present in the juice have different effects on the body. Research also found that if whole fruit is eaten once daily instead of sweet drinks, the risk of high blood pressure can be reduced by 22 percent. At the same time, eating whole fruits instead of fruit juice can reduce this risk by 19 percent.

The whole fruit contains fiber, which helps the sugar to be absorbed slowly in the body. Due to this, blood sugar and insulin levels do not increase suddenly. But during making juice, most of the fiber is removed. In such a situation, the sugar present in the juice reaches the body rapidly. If this happens repeatedly, insulin resistance can increase and the processes in the body that control blood pressure can be affected.

According to research, fructose, when consumed in large quantities, especially in the form of sweet drinks, first reaches the liver. This can increase the process of fat formation in the body, increasing the risk of fatty liver, triglycerides and fat accumulation around the stomach. Due to this, elements that increase inflammation in the body can become active and the normal functioning of blood vessels can be affected. This reason is also believed to be related to increase in blood pressure later on.

The whole fruit contains fiber as well as potassium, antioxidants and polyphenols. All these elements are considered beneficial for the body. Potassium helps in removing excess sodium from the body and helps in controlling blood pressure. Whereas polyphenols help in better functioning of blood vessels. For this reason, eating whole fruits did not present the same risk that was seen with sweetened drinks or juices.

Research has shown that packaged fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks and sports drinks are becoming increasingly popular among children in India. Many parents consider them to be healthy alternatives to soft drinks, but even 100 percent fruit juice contains high amounts of natural sugar and does not have as much fiber as whole fruits. Therefore, instead of taking it daily as a health drink, it should be consumed only in limited quantities. Water and milk are considered better options for children, while it is advised to eat whole fruits as snacks. According to research, good eating habits formed in childhood can help in reducing the risk of high blood pressure and heart diseases in the future.