Your heart is one of the most important and most complex organs in your body. To keep it running healthy, it is crucial that you maintain a healthy diet. While sweet, sugary drinks can be delicious and refreshing, they can negatively affect your heart. Our team at Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island would like to share the best and worst beverages for your heart health. 

When you’re searching for something to quench your thirst with something other than water, there is an abundance of sugary beverages that can be tempting. While these can be tasty, they are loaded with added sugar that can lead to health problems. Below is a breakdown of some of the best and worst beverages for your heart health: 

The Best Drinks for Your Heart

  • Water – Water is the best choice for your heart. It is essential for your body and prevents dehydration. 
  • Tea – Black, green, and other types of tea are loaded with antioxidants that can protect you against high blood pressure and heart disease. 
  • Coffee – Coffee is one of the most popular drinks globally, and for a good reason! Coffee contains an array of polyphenols that can help artery-damaging inflammation. The caffeine in coffee can also provide you a good boost of energy, but drinking too much coffee when you’re sensitive to caffeine can interfere with your sleep and raise your cardiovascular risk. 
  • Whole Fruit Juice – Fruit juice can be a heart-healthy option, provided that there is no added sugar. Some fruit juices can help lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation. The recommended serving is a small glass (4 ounces). 

The Worst Drinks For Your Heart

  • Soft Drinks – Soda is full of empty calories and can carry an entire day’s worth of sugar in one can. Soda can lead to you gaining weight and increase your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. While diet soda may seem like a better option, artificial sweeteners can lead to unwanted weight gain over time. However, diet soda can be an excellent way to transition to drinking water and other healthier drinks. 
  • Energy Drinks – Most energy drinks are full of caffeine, sugar, and other herbal stimulants that perk you up, but they can also cause your heart to beat faster. This can put you at risk for heart issues. 
  • Alcohol – Binge drinking can bring on a wide variety of health issues like high blood pressure and heart failure. Alcohol can also be high in calories, which can increase weight gain. 

Contact ICCLI! 

If you are concerned about maintaining good heart health, our team at Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island is here to help! We offer health programs that are specifically designed for patients with any heart and vascular disease and those with cardiac risk factors. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!