Drinking fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages regularly from childhood into adulthood may increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure later in life, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.
"Dietary habits in early life can have lasting health consequences," said senior study author Vasanti Malik, Sc.D., M.Sc., an associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention in the department of nutritional sciences at Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and an adjunct faculty member in the department of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
"High blood pressure is also emerging earlier in life, with growing rates being seen in younger adults, in children and adolescents, which highlights the importance of early detection and prevention," she said.
Why Early Blood Pressure Risk Matters
High blood pressure can increase the risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. Some risk factors, such as family history, age, gender and race, cannot be changed. However, lifestyle factors including poor diet, smoking and low levels of physical activity can also contribute to the development of high blood pressure.
