Daily Soft Drink consumption Linked to 29% Increase in High Blood pressure Risk,New Study Finds
MAASTRICHT,NETHERLANDS – A new study published in Clinical Nutrition reveals that drinking a single glass of sugary soft drinks daily increases the risk of developing high blood pressure by nearly a third (29 percent). Researchers at maastricht UMC+ conducted the research, comparing the effects of fruit sugar from various sources.
The study initially analyzed data from over 5,800 participants in a large-scale population study in South Limburg.Results indicated that consuming 10 grams of fruit sugar daily – roughly the amount in one glass of cola – elevates the risk of hypertension. This finding was reinforced by a secondary study involving 21 healthy individuals,where 20 grams of fruit sugar was administered four times in the form of an apple,pureed apple,apple juice,or dissolved in water (mimicking soft drinks). The soft drink form consistently resulted in higher blood pressure readings compared to the other sources.
“You would think: fruit sugar is fruit sugar,” stated lead researcher and internist-endocrinologist Martijn Brouwers. “Perhaps the connection is because soft drink drinkers generally live unhealthier lives. That is why we wanted to investigate the effect of fruit sugar independently of lifestyle. We looked at whether it makes a difference in which form you ingest sugar: through soft drinks, fruit or fruit juice.”
Researchers emphasize that the ”packaging” of the sugar matters. Fruit contains fiber,antioxidants,and other protective compounds that slow sugar absorption and mitigate harmful effects.
The findings build upon existing knowledge linking fruit sugar, particularly from sugary drinks, to health issues like fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.High blood pressure, the study notes, can ultimately lead to heart attack or stroke.
For a healthy individual with a baseline risk of 6 percent, daily soft drink consumption increases that risk to 8 percent, according to the study.
