- New research indicates that consuming sugary drinks from childhood could increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure later in life.
- The study, published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, found that drinking over two servings of sugary beverages daily was linked to a 52 per cent higher risk compared to those who consumed fewer than three servings a week.
- Risk was found to vary by drink type, with daily fizzy drinks associated with a 23 per cent higher risk, sports drinks with a 36 per cent higher risk, and over 1.5 servings of fruit juice daily with a 35 per cent higher risk, compared to those who drank less than one serving per week.
- Professor Vasanti Malik, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, recommends limiting sugar-sweetened beverages and consuming 100 per cent fruit juice in moderation, prioritising whole fruit instead.
- Researchers suggested that replacing one daily serving of a sugary beverage with a whole fruit could reduce the risk of high blood pressure by 22 per cent, though they noted the study's reliance on questionnaires and self-reported data means the connection requires further investigation.
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