Are Sugar-Sweetened Beverages All That Bad? Here's What Research Says

If you're the type of person who has three beverages on their desk at all times, listen up: A meta-analysis compared how six different types of popular drinks impact cardiovascular health and mortality risk.

They found that long-term consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and alcohol increased the risk of cardiovascular mortality for both males and females.

Researchers were unable to determine the cardiovascular risk of fruit juices (which tend to be high in natural sugar) and energy drinks due to a lack of substantial data.

Still, previous research suggests energy drinks may be associated with cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and myocardial ischemia1 (low blood flow, which can lead to blocked arteries).

Interestingly, another research study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition around the same time investigated whether physical activity could combat the effects of sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages2 on cardiovascular disease. 

In this study, comprised of 100,000 adults, those who drank SSBs more than twice a week had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of recommended levels of physical activity. 

Now, don't get it twisted—exercise is great for the heart. However, this study suggests it may not fully diminish the negative effects of excessive sugary drinks, serving as another reason to be mindful of sugar intake. 

A meta-analysis review study found that long-term sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption increased the risk of cardiovascular mortality for both males and females. While this is important to note for daily habits, it's not an end-all-be-all discussion for the occasional sugar-sweetened beverage.