Researchers studying the condition of more than 371,000 people found that consuming whole fruit was associated with a greater reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to consuming fruit juice.
According to this study, people with high blood pressure or a history of heart attack or stroke usually consumed more fruit juice, while their consumption of whole fruit was lower.
Researchers say one important factor in this difference is the presence of fiber in whole fruit, because fiber can slow down the absorption of sugar, while a significant portion of fiber is lost during juicing.
However, the findings of this study show a link between the type of fruit consumed and heart health and do not, by themselves, prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
