While sodas and fizzy drinks have long been criticized for causing serious health issues, including heart disease and strokes, fruit juices are also a concern. A recent study reveals that consuming fruit juices raises the risk of stroke by 22%. Researchers from the University of Galway, McMaster University in Canada, and an international team of stroke experts found that drinking fruit juices two to three times a day can double this risk. Scientists describe these juices as “nothing more than sugar syrups with no nutritional value,” leading to a 37% higher chance of stroke, with women being at greater risk than men. Additionally, the study, published in the Journal of Stroke, indicates that consuming more than four cups of coffee daily can also elevate stroke risk.

How Do Fruit Juices Increase Stroke Risk?
Experts point out that a major downside of fruit juices is their lack of fiber, which is essential for regulating digestion and maintaining gut health. Juicing fruits releases sugar rapidly, causing spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels that promote inflammation. Excess sugar can overstimulate the nervous system, leading to stress on blood vessels and potentially resulting in life-threatening conditions like stroke.

"Not all fruit drinks are created equal," notes lead researcher Professor Andrew Smyth, a Clinical Epidemiology Professor at the University of Galway and a Consultant Physician at Galway University Hospitals. "Freshly squeezed juices may offer benefits, while drinks made from concentrates with added sugars and preservatives can be harmful. Our research also indicates that the more fizzy drinks someone consumes, the higher their stroke risk."

To reduce this risk, doctors recommend increasing water intake to at least seven to eight glasses daily for proper hydration. "As a doctor and researcher in stroke risk, I encourage people to minimize their consumption of fizzy and fruit drinks and to consider switching to water instead," he added.

Study Methodology
Researchers focused on the consumption patterns of fizzy drinks and fruit juices, discovering that the link between fruit juice intake and stroke risk was strongest in Eastern and Central Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. They noted that many products labeled as fruit juice are made from concentrates and contain added sugars and preservatives, which can diminish the benefits associated with fresh fruit and increase stroke risk. Women were found to have the highest increased likelihood of stroke associated with fruit juices.

What Happens During a Stroke?
During a stroke, blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, damaging brain cells. This can result in an ischemic stroke, typically caused by a blood clot, or an intracerebral hemorrhage, which leads to bleeding in the brain tissue. Interstroke, one of the largest international studies on stroke risk factors, involved nearly 27,000 participants across 27 countries, including about 13,500 individuals who experienced their first stroke.