“A heart surgeon specialising in general, vascular and thoracic surgery, has issued a stark warning about the cardiovascular risks of consuming certain drinks…”
—doesn’t identify the drinks, so there’s no way to know what it’s specifically refers to without the rest of the article. Headlines like this are often written to encourage clicks.
Based on current medical evidence, drinks consistently linked with increased cardiovascular risk when consumed regularly include:
- Sugar-sweetened drinks (such as regular fizzy drinks, energy drinks, and many sweetened fruit drinks): Regular consumption is associated with a higher risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
- Excessive alcohol: Heavy drinking can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart failure, stroke, and abnormal heart rhythms.
- Energy drinks: Large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants can raise heart rate and blood pressure, particularly in people with underlying heart conditions.
- Very sugary coffee drinks and milkshakes: These can contain large amounts of sugar and calories, which may contribute to long-term cardiovascular risk if consumed frequently.
By contrast, these are generally associated with neutral or beneficial effects when consumed in moderation:
- Water
- Unsweetened tea
- Black coffee (for most adults, moderate intake of about 3–5 cups a day has been linked with lower cardiovascular risk in many studies)
If you can share the full article or the “See more” section, I can explain whether the claims are supported by good evidence or if they’re overstated.
