"Daily Consumption Lowers Blood Pressure and Reduces Inflammation"...Is This Drink Really Not a 'Blood Sugar Villain'?

University of Sao Paulo Research Team Conducts 60-Day Consumption Study
"Blood Pressure, Inflammation, and Metabolic Function Improved... Enhanced Cardiovascular Health"

A study has found that orange juice may help improve heart health. The analysis suggests that orange juice could lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by regulating blood pressure and inflammation.

Orange juice. Unsplash

According to the UK’s Independent on November 22 (local time), a research team from the Food Research Center (FoRC) at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil recently published a paper in the international journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. The paper stated, "Orange juice can help improve heart health by alleviating blood pressure and inflammation, as well as altering the expression of metabolism-related genes."

The researchers instructed 20 adult men and women between the ages of 21 and 46 to drink two cups of 100% orange juice daily for 60 days. Starting three days before the experiment, participants were asked to avoid other citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, as well as strawberries, passion fruit, coffee, chocolate, wine, and tea.

The results showed that participants who consumed orange juice daily for 60 days experienced benefits in blood pressure regulation and reduced inflammation. The team analyzed changes in 1,705 genes in the participants' immune cells, reporting significant changes in gene expression related to blood pressure, inflammation, and metabolic function.

The researchers explained, "Orange juice may have a positive effect on heart health," adding, "It may contribute to blood pressure regulation, fat metabolism, and inflammation improvement by modulating gene expression."

Orange juice. Pexels

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. The media outlet reported, "In the United States, one person dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds, and in 2023 alone, 919,032 people died from cardiovascular disease."

The researchers emphasized that even small changes in diet or lifestyle can have a meaningful impact on heart health. A study published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) analyzed eight major risk factors defined by the American Heart Association (AHA) and found that maintaining healthy lifestyle habits from a young age can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This study tracked over 4,000 adults aged 18 to 30 for 20 years. Participants received a health score out of 100 based on eight criteria. Those who maintained a high score over the long term had a very low risk of cardiovascular disease, while those who maintained a medium score had double the risk, and those whose scores dropped from medium to low had a tenfold increase in risk.

Co-author Professor Donald Lloyd-Jones emphasized, "Paying attention to heart health from a young age allows for a longer healthy lifespan," adding, "In particular, improving lifestyle habits plays a crucial role in reducing future risk."

Fruit juices with simple molecular structures..."Increased risk of type 2 diabetes"

However, liquid sugars consumed in beverages like fruit juice may contribute to diabetes. According to a joint research team from Brigham Young University (BYU) in the United States, the University of Freiburg in Germany, and the University of Paderborn, fruit juice (including 100% fruit juice) increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by 5% for every additional 240 ml consumed per day.

The liquid sugars in fruit juice are simple sugars such as glucose and fructose, or disaccharides like sucrose. Because of their simple molecular structure, they are digested quickly and rapidly raise blood sugar levels.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.