Millions of Americans have a glass of juice to start their day however, despite the common belief that fruit juice is healthy; fruit juice contains high amounts of naturally occurring sugar without the fiber content of the whole fruit. Frequent fruit juice consumption may therefore contribute to excessive sugar consumption typical of the Western society.
Although excess sugar intake is associated with high blood pressure (BP), the association between habitual fruit juice consumption and blood pressure is unclear.
Dr. Matthew Pase, from the Swinburne University of Technology in Hawthorn, Victoria, in Australia, lead author of this study along with colleagues examined the association of fruit juice consumption with brachial and central blood pressure in 160 community dwelling adults.
Researchers used a a 12 month dietary recall questionnaire in order to measure the frequency of fruit juice consumption. On the same day, brachial BP was measured and central (aortic) was estimated through radial artery applanation; a tonometry technology for the continuous noninvasive monitoring of blood pressure. Frequency of fruit juice consumption was classified as rare, occasional or daily
The results showed participants who had consumed fruit juice daily compared to those who consumed fruit juice rarely or occasionally, had significantly higher central systolic blood pressure. Central blood pressure is the pressure in the aorta, which is the large artery into which the heart pumps. The term ‘central blood pressure’ usually refers to the pressure in the aorta near the heart.
The consumption of fruit juice daily was also associated to a significantly higher central pulse pressure, central augmentation pressure and central augmentation index as well as lower pulse pressure amplification. There were no differences in There were no differences in brachial blood pressure. Central systolic BP was 3–4 mm Hg higher for those who consumed fruit juice daily rather than rarely or occasionally.
“The findings suggest the daily use of fruit juice may increase central blood pressures, which are known to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk and cognitive impairment — problems with mental functioning,” said Dr. Pase.
These findings are also important because of the common misconception that fruit juice is healthy. Fruit juices are not adequate substitutes for fruit because they typically lack fiber. When we eat a whole apple, the sugar is “nicely balanced” by the fiber, giving “the liver a chance to fully metabolize what’s coming in,” said Dr. Robert Lustig, MD, an American obesity expert and author of Fat Chance: The Bitter Truth about Sugar, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at University of California, San Francisco, and Director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health (WATCH) Program at UCSF, as reported by The Telegraph. However, when we choose to drink half a pint of apple juice, this actually brings a huge dose of energy directly to the liver. Fruit smoothies are also comparable to fruit juices because the insoluble fiber is actually “torn to smithereens.”
Source: ED Treatment India
