Consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is now being linked to a higher incidence of asthma in children. Moms also can increase the chance that their baby will have asthma by 60% if they consume fructose and sugar-sweetened beverages during pregnancy.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in a study of children in 2018 came to the same conclusion that the intake of HFCS beverages, including apple juice, increase the likelihood of asthma in children.
The concern is that fructose might cause lung inflammation, one of the changes that takes place during an asthma attack.
The study concluded that if your child is consuming drinks with HFCS more than 5 days week, then he or she is 5 times more likely to develop asthma than a child who consumes drinks with HFCS less than once per month.
If your child likes to drink juice, there are other options. Orange juice was not a HFCS culprit, according to the study, and it is found to be a better choice than apple juice. You can also make an effort to reduce the amount of HFCS consumed per week or increase your child’s intake of water.