When it comes to diet and heart health, your focus is likely on what’s on your plate—not what’s in your glass.
Especially if cardiovascular disease runs in your family or you know you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, you probably already know that foods like deli meat, pork, French fries and packaged baked goods should only be enjoyed occasionally. Maybe you’re making a conscious effort to eat more plant-based foods and lean proteins to support your cardiovascular health.
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What you eat certainly impacts heart health, but so does what you drink. For example, did you know that drinking soda regularly is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure? Unfortunately, diet soda is also linked to some pretty detrimental health risks, including heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular mortality.
There’s another type of drink that could be straining your heart, and it’s particularly popular this time of year.
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The ‘Healthy’ Drink That Could Be Straining Your Heart
According to data published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that took into account more than 25,000 US adults, almost one in four US adults consumes sports or energy drinks at least once a week. Sports drinks are particularly popular during the summer, when more people are seeking out beverages that help replenish electrolytes lost through sweating.
For many people—specifically athletes and others who may be sweating a lot—sports drinks are a beneficial way to stay hydrated. But if you don’t live an active lifestyle and sports drinks are your beverage of choice, you could be unknowingly straining your heart.
“Children and people who are not engaging in extended physical activity generally don’t need sports drinks and may be getting unnecessary added sugars and calories,” says registered dietitian Allison Stowell, RD.
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To her point, according to the aforementioned scientific article, a sports drink can contain more than 30 grams of added sugar. To put this in perspective, the American Heart Association recommends capping added sugar intake at 25 grams a day for women and 36 grams a day for men. This is because a diet high in added sugar is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
“For most people in most situations, drinking water is more than sufficient without the added sugar sports drinks provide. Children, sedentary adults, people with type 2 diabetes and anyone trying to manage their weight don’t need sports drinks regularly,” says Ashley Kitchens, MPH, RD, a registered dietitian and the founder of Plant Centered Nutrition.
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Who Can Benefit From Sports Drinks?
While sports drinks shouldn’t be consumed regularly if you have a primarily inactive lifestyle, they can be a great go-to drink for people who are moving their bodies a lot. Registered dietitian Brinya Kydd, RDN explains that endurance athletes can especially benefit from staying hydrated with this type of beverage.
“Sports drinks can benefit athletes by replenishing water, electrolytes and carbohydrate losses during an intense and prolonged exercise bout. They can help sustain performance by attenuating muscle cramping, dehydration, low blood sugars and reduced output,” she says.
Registered dietitian Sara Riehm, RD, adds to this, saying that she recommends sports drinks to anyone who will be exercising for longer than one hour or will be in the heat for a prolonged amount of time and anticipate sweating a lot. Additionally, she says that sports drinks can be helpful for people who are sick and experiencing vomiting or diarrhea because it helps replenish fluids and electrolytes that have been lost.
All four dietitians say that the high sugar content in this type of beverage actually serves a purpose for athletes; it’s a good thing! “During prolonged intense exercise, fast-acting carbohydrates are what your muscles need for quick energy and to help delay fatigue,” Kitchens explains.
What To Keep in Mind When Buying Sports Drinks
There are some tips to keep in mind when choosing a sports drink to ensure you’re supporting your body as best as you can. If you are gearing up for an intense workout or long day outside, Riehm recommends buying a sports drink with both electrolytes and sugar. If you just want a sports drink to enjoy but don’t plan on sweating too much, she says to go for a sugar-free option.
Kydd recommends choosing a sports drink that doesn’t have artificial ingredients, which are often used for flavor or color. Instead, she recommends looking for sports drinks with natural ingredients.
If you’re doing some light physical activity, Kitchens says that coconut water can be a lower sugar alternative to sports drinks. Coconut water has beneficial minerals and electrolytes, including potassium, magnesium and sodium, without the added sugar that sports drinks have.
Even when you are using sports drinks for hydration, Stowell says that water and water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables still have a place at the table. Especially if you’re an athlete, it’s important to consider how your overall diet can support you; a sports drink isn’t a replacement for a balanced meal.
There are situations when staying hydrated with sports drinks can be helpful. But if you aren’t particularly physically active, it’s best to save them for situations when you are. Drinking plain H20 is an often-overlooked way to support your heart.
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Sources
Cordeiro Gonçalves, K., Batista Tonaco, L. A., Augusto Veleso, G., et al. (2025). Association between soft drink consumption and cardiovascular disease risk among Brazilian adults: a cross-sectional study. Sao Paulo Medical Journal. 143(4):e2023433. Gardener, H., Rundek, T., Markert, M., et al. (2012). Diet Soft Drink Consumption is Associated with an Increased Risk of Vascular Events in the Northern Manhattan Study. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 27(9):1120-1126. Park, S., Onufrak, S., Blanck, H. M., et al. (2013). Characteristics Associated with Consumption of Sports and Energy Drinks among US Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2010. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 113(1):112-119. Allison Stowell, RD, registered dietitian and founder of Stowell Nutrition. How Much Sugar Is Too Much? American Heart Association. Yang, Q., Zhang, Z., Gregg, E. W., et al. (2014). Added Sugar Intake and Cardiovascular Diseases Mortality Among US Adults. JAMA Internal Medicine. 174(4):516-524. Ashley Kitchens, MPH, RD, registered dietitian and the founder of Plant Centered Nutrition. Brinya Kydd, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sara Riehm, RD, registered dietitian and weight management specialist.Hence then, the article about the healthy summer drink that could be straining your heart 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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