... but one juice can be deadly

WOMEN who have just one sugary fruit drink a day are more than 40 per cent more likely to suffer from heart disease, researchers warn.

A study found those who regularly down drinks with added sugar are also more likely to develop diabetes or suffer a stroke than women who rarely or never do.

Cases of cardiovascular disease rose by 42 per cent and strokes by 21 per cent among those who had one or more fruit drinks with added sugar daily. Similar consumption of fizzy drinks was linked to a 23 per cent rise.

Academics in the US tracked more than 106,000 women over nearly 25 years. None had been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke or diabetes at the outset.

The study found women with the highest sugary drink intake were younger, more likely to be smokers and obese.

Lead author Professor Cheryl Anderson, of the University of California, said: ‘Too much sugar in the blood is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, insulin resistance, unhealthy cholesterol profiles and type 2 diabetes.’

Public health experts recommend adults should have no more than 30g of added sugars a day, around seven sugar cubes.