Fruit juice increases your risk of premature death, even more than soda – reveals a study

Consuming fruit juice is just as harmful to your health and may cause premature death as eating cola or lemonade, according to research.

A new study has revealed an increased risk of premature death from all causes, among people consuming a lot of sugary drinks.

American researchers have for the first time compared 100% fruit juice with sugary drinks such as cola and lemonade.

They discovered very similar badociations for fruit juices and sugary drinks, with an increased risk of premature death, although they said that more research was needed.

One expert described the study as important, but said that a single glbad of 150 ml of fruit juice per day was safe.

The new research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), badyzed data from 13,440 people. Their consumption of sugary drinks and 100% fruit juice was recorded via a questionnaire on the frequency of beverage consumption.

At an average follow-up of six years, there were 1,000 deaths from all causes and 168 deaths from coronary heart disease.

In general, people taking part in the study consume 8.4% of their caloric intake per day in sweet drinks and 4% in 100% fruit juice.

People were considered to consume a lot of these drinks if 10% or more of their energy intake came from these drinks compared to those with a low intake (less than 5%).

After taking into account factors such as obesity, most-absorbed consumers had an increased risk of dying from any cause of 11% for every additional 12 oz of sugary drink consumed and overweight. an increased risk of 24% for each additional 12 oz. of fruit juice consumed.

Researchers, including Emory University in Atlanta and Cornell University in New York City, said: "These results suggest increased consumption of sugary drinks, including fruit juice, combined with increased mortality.

"The nutrient content of 100% fruit juice and sugary drinks (sweet drinks) is very similar.

"While 100% fruit juices contain vitamins and phytonutrients that are lacking in most SSBs, the predominant ingredients in sugar and water are both.

"Although the sugar contained in SSB is added during processing and the sugar contained in the fruit juice is 100% natural, the specific sugars they provide to the body are essentially the same and the biochemical response when 'they are metabolized is the same. "

The authors suggested some possible reasons for the increased risk of dying from consuming sugary drinks.

Obesity is obviously the main factor, they said, but once this has been taken into account, research suggests that sugary drinks increase insulin resistance.

Other factors may be that fructose consumption alters blood lipid levels, markers of inflammation and high blood pressure, while high glucose consumption is badociated with resistance to insulin and diabetes.

Dr. Gunter Kuhnle, badociate professor of nutrition and health at the University of Reading, said: "This is a very important study, especially as fruit juices are often considered a "healthy" alternative to sugary drinks, even though they contain a lot more sugar (especially smoothies).

"Fruit juices can provide vitamins and even fiber, but they have few health benefits: the amount of phytochemicals in juices is too low to have an additional beneficial effect, and antioxidants have no beneficial effect on health.

"If the badociation is shown to be causal (what we do not know yet), it would have a number of consequences: first, it would suggest that it does not matter whether the sugary drinks are lemonades or fruit juices .

"It's important because fruit juices and smoothies are not usually perceived as sweet drinks. Secondly, it would suggest that the alleged health benefits of fruit juices are not sufficient to counteract their sugar content.

"Fruit juices are a poor substitute for real fruit consumption, especially because they can be much more easily over-consumed.

"Indeed, a glbad of orange juice of 150 ml is composed of about two oranges – but it takes a lot longer to eat two oranges than to drink the juice.

"In the UK, the general recommendation is that a 150ml glbad of fruit juice can provide one of five per day, but no more.

"This is less than half the amount found in this study that results in a modest increase in mortality, so this study does not suggest that a drink a day is problematic."

MailOnline