Researchers analyzed data from nearly 25,800 participants in the American Growing Up Today Study and published their findings in Circulation.
The participants were followed for up to 25 years and regularly answered questions about their diet and drinking habits.
The aim was to investigate whether what children drink can affect their health as adults, according to HealthDay.
Fruit makes a difference
The study found that whole fruit may be a better choice than both fruit juice and sugary beverages.
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The researchers found that the risk of developing high blood pressure later in life was lower among children who replaced one daily sugary drink with a piece of fruit.
The same effect was observed when fruit juice was replaced with whole fruit.
According to the researchers, one possible explanation is that the fiber and pulp in whole fruits cause sugar to be absorbed more slowly by the body.
The link became clear in the results
Children who drank at least 350 milliliters of fruit juice per day had a 35 percent higher risk of developing high blood pressure as young adults.
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Among children who drank at least 700 milliliters of soda or sports drinks daily, the risk was 52 percent higher.
The researchers emphasized that the results could not be explained by other factors such as exercise or the overall quality of the participants’ diets.
The study therefore suggests that a high intake of both fruit juice and sugary beverages during childhood may be associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure later in life.
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