Skip to main content
  • English
American Heart Association Go Red for Women
American Heart Association Go Red For Women
  • Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms in Women
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • Donate
  • Donate
  • site search Search
    Search
  • Heart Disease in Women
  • Know Your Risk
  • Healthy Living
  • Stages of Life
  • Get Involved
  • About Us
  • In Your Community
  • Warning Signs
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
    • English
    • Español

Not just extra calories: Sugary drinks may boost risk of heart disease

RapidEye/E+, Getty Images

Sugary drinks can take a toll on your health that goes beyond extra calories.

Recent research shows women who drink one or more sugar-laden beverages — such as soda, sweetened water and teas, and fruit drinks — every day could boost their risk of cardiovascular disease by 20% compared to women who rarely or never drink them.

Daily consumption of such drinks also were associated with a 26% higher likelihood of needing a procedure to open clogged arteries, such as angioplasty, and a 21% higher chance of having a stroke.

The research was based on observational studies, and doesn’t prove cause and effect, but the authors hypothesized sugar may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in several ways.

"It raises glucose levels and insulin concentrations in the blood, which may increase appetite and lead to obesity, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Cheryl Anderson, professor and interim chair of family and public health at the University of California San Diego and the study’s senior author.

Too much sugar in the blood also is linked to "oxidative stress and inflammation, insulin resistance, unhealthy cholesterol profiles and Type 2 diabetes, conditions that are strongly linked to the development of atherosclerosis, the slow narrowing of the arteries that underlies most cardiovascular disease," said Anderson, immediate past chair of the American Heart Association's nutrition committee.

Sugar-sweetened beverages are the biggest source of added sugars in the American diet. A typical 12-ounce can of regular soda has 130 calories and 8 teaspoons (34 grams) of sugar. The AHA recommends limiting added sugar to no more than 100 calories a day for most women, which is about 6 teaspoons, or 25 grams. For men, the recommendation is no more than 150 calories a day, which is about 9 teaspoons of sugar or 38 grams.

The research, which was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, is part of the ongoing California Teacher's Study that began in 1995. The study included more than 106,000 women who reported how much and what they drank via a food questionnaire. Participants, whose average age was 52, had not been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke or diabetes when they enrolled in the study.

Women who drank the most sugar-sweetened beverages were younger, more likely to be current smokers, obese and less likely to eat healthy foods.

What kind of sugary drinks women drank made a difference. One or more sugar-added fruit drinks a day was associated with a 42% greater likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease compared to women who rarely or never drank them. With soft drinks, that likelihood was 23%.

The study was unable to evaluate consumption of artificially sweetened beverages and/or sweetened hot beverages and was limited by having only one measurement of sugar-sweetened beverage intake.

 

Last Reviewed: Nov 10, 2020

X formerly known as Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email Print

Beyond the Table

Beyond the Table
  • Stories
    • Sepsis is a serious but misunderstood heart threat
    • 10,000 steps a day: Uncovering the origin behind the popular walking goal
    • AED: a crucial tool in cardiac arrest
    • Beat the heat: Strategies to protect your heart and brain
    • Benefits of losing weight may abide even if pounds return
    • Cuff size matters in blood pressure readings
    • Do this and ward off both breast cancer and heart disease
    • Don’t ignore the quality of relationships when considering the link between good health and marriage
    • Eat healthier in 2023
    • Embrace the holiday spirit with these simple wellness strategies
    • Essential vitamins and minerals during pregnancy linked to reduced risk of high blood pressure
    • Expert tips to help avoid holiday stress and stay healthy
    • It’s American Heart Month: What every woman should know about heart health
    • Fish oil supplements may be more popular than beneficial
    • Healthy substitutions elevate holiday drinks
    • High blood pressure during pregnancy poses risks for mother and child
    • Secondhand smoke worse for children than many people think
    • How the Body Roundness Index offers new insights into cardiovascular risk
    • How to fit walking into any schedule
    • Is winter dehydration sneaking up on you?
    • It’s American Heart Month: What every woman should know about heart health
    • It's never too early for a healthy diet
    • Learn CPR and be prepared to save a life anywhere
    • Less salt leads the changes in school lunches
    • Let music step up your exercise program
    • Lifestyle changes key to reducing increased risks for heart disease as women age
    • Millions of U.S. households with children affected by food insecurity, survey finds
    • Nearly 1 in 4 young U.S. adults
    • Not just extra calories: Sugary drinks may boost risk of heart disease
    • Research confirms link between early menopause, higher ischemic stroke risk
    • Secondhand smoke worse for children than many people think
    • Sip and snack: The best foods to boost your hydration
    • Spring into a new exercise routine
    • Spring into better health
    • Study narrows focus on pregnancy complications and stroke
    • Study reveals lower cardiac rehabilitation attendance among Asian, Black and Hispanic adults
    • Not just extra calories: Sugary drinks may boost risk of heart disease
    • Summer boredom can spark creativity and learning through play in kids
    • Teens targeted by e-cig industry on new path to nicotine addiction
    • The fight against youth vaping: Programs, research and school strategies
    • There's a gender split in mini-stroke diagnosis
    • This volunteer does better by doing good
    • Understanding seasonal depression and how to cope with it
    • Weigh the benefits of a regular bedtime
    • What people with heart conditions should know now about COVID-19
    • Lend an ear: Why corn on the cob belongs at your cookout
    • Women and men are (not quite) equals on heart transplants
    • Prioritizing care for others, women often neglect their own health
    • Women's quality of life after stroke is worse than men — age may be a major factor.
Mom and son cooking in kitchen

Join the Go Red for Women Movement and get our free Shop Smart, Eat Smart digital recipe booklet while supplies last!

Live your best life by learning your risk for heart disease and taking action to reduce it. We can help.

First Name Required

Last Name Required

Email Required

Zip Code Required

CVS Health is a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement.
Goredforwomen.org/es is made possible through the generous support of the Adriana Gallardo Legacy Fund for Women's Health.

*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines. Find more information on our content editorial process.

American Heart Association

National Center
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231

Customer Service
1-800-AHA-USA-1
1-800-242-8721

Contact Us

Hours
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT 
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT
Closed on Sundays

Tax Identification Number
13-5613797

About Us

  • About the AHA/ASA
  • Annual Report
  • AHA Financial Information
  • Careers
  • International Programs
  • Latest Heart and Stroke News
  • AHA/ASA Media Newsroom

Get Involved

  • Donate Now
  • Make a Memorial Gift
  • Advocate
  • Ways to Give
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • ShopCPR

Our Sites

  • American Heart Association
  • American Stroke Association
  • CPR & ECC
  • Professional Heart Daily
  • More Sites
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • X formerly known as Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Tik Tok
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program page for Standards of Excellence
  • Better Business Bureau page for American Heart Association
  • Charity Navigator Home
  • Secured by Sectigo page for SSL certificates
×
American Heart Association

This link is provided for convenience only and is not an endorsement of either the linked-to entity or any product or service.

Proceed
  • AHA Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Copyright Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • Linking Policy
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Content Editorial Guidelines
  • Suppliers & Providers
  • State Fundraising Notices


©2025 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
The American Heart Association is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
*Red Dress ™ DHHS, Go Red ™ AHA ; National Wear Red Day® is a registered trademark.