Did you know that diseases linked to clogged arteries (also known as atherosclerosis) are the leading causes of death in the United States? It’s true. When plaque builds up in the arteries, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes and contribute to heart disease—all of which are among the top causes of death.
Maybe you already know the basics of living a heart-healthy lifestyle. You know it’s important to move your body as much as you can. (The American Heart Association recommends aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week.) You know to minimize red meat and get your protein primarily from plant-based sources. And you know to go easy on the salt.
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Thinking about how what you eat can affect your cardiovascular health, including your arteries, is important, but it’s also vital to think about what you drink. Humans are creatures of habit. There’s a good chance that you drink the same beverages every day, such as coffee every morning or sparkling water every day at lunch.
There’s one popular drink in particular that many people don’t realize negatively impacts arteries.
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“The foundation of healthy arteries is actually pretty simple, even if putting it into practice isn't always easy,” Dr. Sirisha Vadali, MD, a non-invasive cardiologist specializing in heart-health prevention, tells Parade.
She adds that one way to keep your arteries strong and flexible is by exercising regularly. According to scientific research, the best type of exercise to support your arteries is a combination of regular aerobic exercise and resistance training. This combination helps with arterial stiffness (how flexible arteries are), endothelial function (how well blood vessels dilate) and blood flow regulation.
When it comes to supporting your arteries through diet, Dr. Vadali recommends eating a wide range of minimally processed, nutrient-rich foods and minimizing ultra-processed foods. Additionally, she explains it’s important to maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, avoid tobacco, get adequate sleep, manage stress and maintain a healthy weight.
“Small, sustainable habits practiced consistently over time can have a big impact on long-term cardiovascular health,” she says.
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How To Know if You Have Healthy Arteries
Arteries are not like muscles: You can’t look in the mirror and tell what kind of shape they’re in. “Unfortunately, there isn't a simple way to tell if your arteries are healthy based on how you feel, either,” Dr. Vadali says, adding that plaque can build up silently for years before causing symptoms.
So, how do you know how healthy your arteries are? Get your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked. If any of these numbers are outside a healthy range, it’s an indicator that you could likely benefit from making some diet and lifestyle changes (and potentially take a prescription medication), to not only turn your numbers around, but also support your arteries.
Additionally, if you have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, it’s important to let your doctor know.
“Depending on someone's individual risk factors, their doctor may also recommend additional testing to look for early signs of plaque buildup,” Dr. Vadali explains.
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Everything we put into our bodies impacts our health, for better or for worse. That includes what we drink. One popular drink that Dr. Vadali says can negatively affect artery health when consumed regularly is sugar-sweetened tea. Often, this type of drink has just as much added sugar as soda.
Thought it was just salt that negatively impacts arteries? Consuming excessive amounts of added sugar can also. “[Sugary] drinks can contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, elevated triglycerides and chronic inflammation. Over time, those factors increase the risk of plaque building up in the arteries,” Dr. Vadali explains.
To this point, a 2025 meta-analysis published in Nutrition Journal found a strong association between a diet high in sugary beverages (such as soda and sugar-sweetened tea) and elevated risks of mortality and major cardiovascular outcomes, including hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.
Besides sugar-sweetened tea, Dr. Vadali says that energy drinks, flavored coffee drinks and fruit juices are other beverages that are often higher in added sugar than many people realize.
What should you drink instead? While nothing beats plain H20, simply opting for unsweetened tea is a great way to avoid the risks that come with drinking sugar-sweetened tea regularly.
“For people who exercise regularly, spend time outdoors in the heat, or lose a lot of fluid through sweat, electrolyte beverages can certainly have a place too. I just encourage people to read the label because many sports drinks and electrolyte products contain large amounts of added sugar. When possible, choose electrolyte drinks with little or no added sugar,” she tells Parade.
Supporting your arteries requires an overall healthy diet and lifestyle; it doesn’t just come down to one singular food or drink. “Staying active, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing stress, getting enough sleep and keeping up with your preventive care are where you see some of the biggest benefits. When those habits work together, they can make a big difference in your long-term heart health,” Dr. Vadali says.
Don’t underestimate the power of small, sustainable habits—including choosing unsweetened tea instead of sugar-sweetened tea. When done consistently, small habits like this truly can make a difference.
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Sources:
What Is Atherosclerosis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Leading Causes of Death. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How much physical activity do you need? American Heart Association.Dr. Sirisha Vadali, MD, non-invasive cardiologist specializing in heart-health prevention.Yadav, Y. (2011). Exercise in the Management of Coronary Artery Disease. Medical Journal Armed Forces India. 63(4):357-361.Jamali, M., Anvarifarad, P., Hosseini, B., et al. (2025). Sweetened beverages and cardiovascular outcomes: an umbrella review of mortality and health outcomes.Nutrition Journal. doi: 10.1186/s12937-025-01242-1.Hence then, the article about this popular drink could be clogging your arteries a cardiologist warns was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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