Foods Sweetened with Fructose Linked to High Blood Pressure
Researchers have found that consuming foods sweetened with HFCS raises the risk of developing high blood pressure.
One in three Americans has hypertension and many don’t know it. This puts them at risk for several deadly diseases, including heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness and dementia.
People who consume 74 grams or more per day of fructose — the equivalent of 2.5 soft drinks daily — had a greatly increased risk of high blood pressure. A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 mmHg. For research participants consuming fructose regularly, the risk of a high blood pressure level of 134/85 went up 26 % and the risk of having a blood pressure of 140/90 rose by 30 %. The risk of very high blood pressure — 160/100 — was 77 % higher in people who consumed fructose sweetened foods and drinks on a daily basis.
