Why too much fruit juice can increase the risk of stroke

Based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5.6% of adults reach for fruit drinks daily. However, consuming more than one glass of fruit juice can lead to an unwanted – and life-threatening – side effect. Drinking fruit juice every day was linked to an increased risk of stroke, according to a recently published study.

The study, published in a 2024 issue of the Journal of Stroke, examined the connection between fruit drinks and juices and two types of stroke: ischemic and intracerebral hemorrhage. One or two daily fruit juices did not appear to affect the likelihood of having an ischemic stroke. However, they appeared to increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.

As the American Stroke Association explains, an intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when bleeding begins in brain tissue. A 2021 study in the Journal of Nephrology found that intracerebral hemorrhage resulted in death in 36% of cases.

But why would drinking fruit juice have an impact on a person’s risk of stroke? To get an expert’s opinion, Health Digest asked Dr. Jason Singh, the chief medical officer and physician at One Oak Medical.

According to Singh, two fruit juice properties play a role. The first concerns the sugar content of many types of fruit juice.

“Fruit juices are concentrated sources of fructose and glucose that are quickly absorbed in our body and then cause a spike in insulin,” Singh said. “Chronically high insulin levels can then promote inflammation, which can lead to atherosclerosis and high blood pressure – as risk factors for a stroke.”

The American Stroke Association recognizes this link between sugar consumption and stroke risk, noting that people with diabetes are twice as likely to have a stroke as people without the condition. This number is supported by a 2023 study in the Journal of Stroke, which found that people with diabetes have up to twice the risk of having a stroke, as well as a higher chance of having more than one stroke.

The second reason Singh sees a possible link between excessive fruit juice consumption and stroke risk has to do with the lack of fiber in fruit juice. Singh explained: “Fiber generally slows sugar absorption and also prevents insulin spikes. Juicing results in a loss of fiber that you would normally experience with raw fruit.”

Again, science supports Singh’s explanation. A 2023 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases found a likely link between higher fiber consumption and a corresponding lower risk of stroke.

This doesn’t mean you have to avoid fruit juice, but it may be best to drink it in moderation. Singh advised adults to drink no more than 4 to 6 ounces of fruit juice daily. (He mentioned that children should drink less.) Additionally, he recommended eating whole fruits, choosing juices with lower sugar content, or diluting fruit juices with water to prevent another stroke.