According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023, fructose, a natural sugar found in fruit juices that is consumed excessively in the evening can overload the liver.
The liver has to convert most of the fructose into glucose or triglycerides (neutral fats), which can easily lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
People who drink over 250ml of fruit juice per night have a 17% higher risk of increased liver enzymes and fat accumulation than those who only drink it in the morning.
In particular, taking sugar alone when the body is less active in the evening causes energy to not be used up, converts to fat and reduces the liver's ability to detoxify.
The kidneys play a role in filtering out excess sugar and salt from the blood. When you drink thick fruit juice in the evening, your blood sugar levels increase rapidly, forcing your kidneys to work harder to balance.
According to research published in the Clinical Kidney Journal, consuming more than 50g of fructose per day is associated with a high risk of uric acid formation, the leading cause of kidney stones and gout.
Some juices such as oranges or lemons are also rich in potassium. People with weak kidney function, if they drink a lot in the evening, are likely to increase blood potassium, causing heart rhythm disturbances and fatigue.
The National Kidney Foundation (USA) recommends that people with chronic kidney disease should limit fruit juice, especially in the evening, because at this time the body is less likely to excrete excess potassium and sugar.
Experts from Cleveland Clinic suggest replacing the juice with warm water, chamomile tea or water to filter a few slices of fresh lemon. These options not only help gently purify the liver and kidneys but also support deeper sleep.
Drinking a glass of warm water 1 hour after dinner helps improve circulation, reducing the burden on the liver and kidneys when having to process sugar and fat.
