A simple glass of fruit juice every morning is often seen as a healthy choice. However, a large study conducted over 25 years suggests that certain drinks consumed in childhood could increase the risk of high blood pressure in adulthood. Researchers also point the finger at sodas and propose a simple alternative: favor whole fruits.
Sugary drinks consumed from childhood associated with increased risk
Eating habits adopted during childhood could leave a lasting imprint on cardiovascular health. This is shown by a study published in June 2026 by the University of Toronto, led by Vasanti Malik and published in the scientific journal Traffic.
Researchers followed more than 25,000 young Americans for 25 years. Every one to four years, participants reported their consumption of sodas, energy drinks, lemonades and fruit juices, as well as their physical activity, smoking and various health data.
The results showed that people consuming two or more cans of sugary drinks per day had a 52% higher risk of hypertension. Each daily serving of soda was associated with a 23% increase in risk, while energy drinks were linked to a 36% increase.
According to the researchers, this association persisted even after taking into account overall diet and physical activity, suggesting that these factors were not enough to offset the effects of these drinks.
Fruit juices may not be as harmless as we think
The study also highlights an unexpected result regarding fruit juices.
From 1.5 servings per day, their consumption was associated with a 35% increase in the risk of hypertension in adulthood. The researchers point out, however, that this association mainly concerned orange juice, with a 20% increase in risk per daily serving. Apple juice and other varieties did not show a measurable link.
The authors nevertheless urge caution in the interpretation of this result. Some participants might have confused real orange juice with flavored drinks. They also point out that the problem does not lie only in fructose, but in the way it is consumed: a juice concentrates the sugar of several fruits while being low in fiber, which normally slows the absorption of sugars.
As Vasanti Malik points out:
“Eating habits adopted early in life can have lasting consequences on health. Hypertension appears earlier and earlier, in young adults, and even in children and adolescents, which highlights the importance of early detection and prevention.”
Replacing sugary drinks with whole fruits could make a difference
The researchers also modeled several substitution scenarios.
Their analyzes show that replacing a daily portion of a sugary drink with a whole fruit would be associated with a 22% reduction in the risk of hypertension. When fruit juice is replaced with whole fruit, the estimated reduction reaches 19%.
The authors point out that whole fruits were not associated with an increased risk of hypertension in their study. Finally, they point out that their work is based on dietary declarations from participants, which can lead to certain biases, particularly in the identification of drinks consumed.
This large-scale study therefore invites us to think about the eating habits established from childhood and the benefit of favoring whole fruits rather than sugary drinks, including certain fruit juices, in a long-term prevention approach.