What Not to Drink with Heart Problems: A Guide to Heart-Healthy Beverages

October 11, 2025 •

5 min read

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, making dietary choices, including beverages, a critical factor for managing cardiovascular health. Understanding what not to drink with heart problems can significantly reduce strain on your heart and help prevent serious complications. This guide will outline the most harmful beverages and recommend safer, heart-healthy alternatives.

Quick Summary

This article details which beverages are harmful for individuals with heart problems, including sugary sodas, energy drinks, and excessive alcohol. It explains the specific risks each type of drink poses, such as increased blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and fluid retention. The article also provides a comprehensive table for comparing harmful drinks with heart-safe alternatives.

Key Points

Avoid Sugary Drinks: Sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, and cordials are high in added sugars, which can lead to weight gain, high blood sugar, and increased risk of heart disease.
Steer Clear of Energy Drinks: High caffeine and other stimulants in energy drinks can dangerously increase heart rate and blood pressure, potentially causing arrhythmias.
Limit or Abstain from Alcohol: Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and damage the heart muscle over time. Consult your doctor for personal guidelines.
Beware of High-Sodium Beverages: Canned soups, broths, and some vegetable or sports drinks contain excess sodium, which can cause fluid retention and raise blood pressure.
Practice Caution with Caffeine: While moderate coffee consumption might be acceptable for some, excessive caffeine can trigger irregular heart rhythms. Avoid specialty coffees loaded with syrups and cream.
Choose Water First: Plain water is the best and safest beverage for hydration, supporting your heart's ability to pump blood efficiently.
Read Labels Carefully: Always check nutrition labels for hidden sugars, high sodium content, and excessive calories in packaged drinks.

The beverages we consume daily can have a profound impact on our cardiovascular system, especially for those with pre-existing heart conditions. While plain water is universally recognized as the best choice for hydration, many other popular drinks can pose significant risks. It is crucial for anyone managing heart problems to understand why certain beverages should be limited or completely avoided.

Sugary Drinks: A Major Risk Factor

One of the most damaging categories of beverages for heart health is sugar-sweetened drinks. These include regular sodas, fruit drinks (not 100% juice), sweetened iced teas, and many cordials. The high levels of added sugar in these products are a significant concern.

Increased Weight and Obesity: High sugar intake contributes to weight gain and obesity, both of which are major risk factors for heart disease.
Higher Blood Sugar and Insulin Resistance: Consuming large amounts of sugar can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, a condition closely linked with cardiovascular problems.
Elevated Triglycerides: High sugar intake can cause an increase in triglyceride levels in the blood, which can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries.
Inflammation and Arterial Plaque: Excessive sugar consumption is associated with systemic inflammation and the buildup of plaque in arteries, leading to atherosclerosis.

Why soda and fruit drinks are so detrimental

These drinks are essentially nutrient-void liquid calories. Unlike whole fruits, which contain fiber that slows sugar absorption, these beverages deliver a rapid and concentrated dose of sugar. A 12-ounce can of cola, for instance, can contain over 35 grams of sugar, equivalent to almost 10 teaspoons. This places a huge metabolic burden on the body and can exacerbate heart disease risk factors.

The Dangers of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are a concoction of high-dose caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants like guarana and taurine. For someone with a heart condition, these are particularly dangerous and should be strictly avoided.

High Caffeine Content: The massive dose of caffeine (often 100-300 mg per serving) can significantly increase heart rate and blood pressure, placing undue stress on the cardiovascular system.
Irregular Heart Rhythms: The combination of caffeine and other stimulants can disrupt the heart's natural electrical rhythm, potentially triggering arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation.
Increased Blood Pressure: High caffeine intake is directly linked to increased blood pressure, a serious issue for those with pre-existing hypertension or heart failure.
Electrolyte Imbalance: The diuretic effect of caffeine and the high sugar content can lead to dehydration and imbalances in electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which are crucial for heart function.

Limiting or Avoiding Alcohol

The relationship between alcohol and heart health is complex, but for those with heart problems, most experts recommend limiting or completely abstaining from alcohol.

Cardiomyopathy: Heavy, chronic alcohol consumption can directly damage the heart muscle, leading to alcoholic cardiomyopathy, a condition that can result in heart failure.
High Blood Pressure: Excessive alcohol intake is a well-established cause of high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Arrhythmias: Binge drinking or chronic alcohol use can trigger irregular heartbeats, a phenomenon sometimes called "holiday heart syndrome". For individuals with conditions like atrial fibrillation, alcohol can increase the likelihood of recurrence.
Medication Interference: Alcohol can interact dangerously with many heart medications, including blood thinners, reducing their effectiveness or increasing side effects.

High-Sodium Beverages

While not as obvious as sugary or alcoholic drinks, some beverages contain surprisingly high levels of sodium. This is especially concerning for people with heart failure, as excess sodium leads to fluid retention and increased blood pressure, making the heart work harder.

Salty Broths and Soups: Canned and packaged broths can be extremely high in sodium. Always read the nutrition label and opt for low-sodium or homemade versions.
Certain Vegetable Juices: Some commercial vegetable juices are loaded with sodium to enhance flavor. Check the label carefully; a low-sodium version is a better choice.
Specific Sports Drinks: While some sports drinks are low in sugar, many contain high amounts of sodium intended for athletes exercising intensely for long periods. For most people with heart conditions, these are unnecessary and potentially harmful.

A Comparison of Drinks: Harmful vs. Heart-Healthy


Feature	Harmful Drinks	Heart-Healthy Alternatives
Examples	Sugary Sodas, Energy Drinks, Excessive Alcohol, High-Sodium Juices	Plain Water, Herbal Tea, Unsweetened Coffee (in moderation), Fruit-Infused Water
Sugar Content	Very High (added sugars, corn syrup)	None to Low (natural sugars only)
Caffeine/Stimulants	Very High (energy drinks)	None (water, herbal tea) to Moderate (coffee, green tea)
Effect on Blood Pressure	Increases (sugar, caffeine, alcohol, sodium)	Maintains or Helps Lower (water, beetroot juice)
Effect on Heart Rhythm	Can disrupt (energy drinks, alcohol)	Neutral or Beneficial (water, green tea)
Impact on Weight	Promotes weight gain and obesity	Supports weight management
Best For Individuals With Heart Conditions	Avoid or strictly limit	Primary hydration source

Other Drinks to Approach with Caution

Moderation is key for certain drinks that might not be immediately obvious heart risks.

Coffee: For some, moderate coffee consumption (under 400 mg of caffeine per day) is not harmful, and some studies suggest it may even be beneficial. However, excessive intake can increase heart rate and trigger irregular rhythms, especially in sensitive individuals. Avoid large, sweetened specialty coffees with extra creams and syrups, which add significant sugar and calories.
Diet Sodas: While free of sugar, artificial sweeteners have been linked to metabolic disturbances and an increased risk of cardiovascular issues in some studies, although more research is needed. Limiting intake is a wise precaution.

Conclusion: Prioritize Water and Mindfulness

Protecting your heart means being mindful of your dietary choices, and this extends to your fluid intake. While water is undoubtedly the safest and best beverage for overall health, it is vital to recognize and avoid the drinks that can exacerbate heart problems. Cutting out sugary sodas, energy drinks, and high-sodium options, while limiting alcohol and excessive caffeine, can have a profound positive impact. Always discuss your diet with your healthcare provider, and stay hydrated with heart-healthy options like plain water, herbal tea, or naturally flavored water to support your cardiovascular system. A simple change in your drinking habits can make a significant difference in your long-term heart health. For more heart-healthy living tips, visit the American Heart Association website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sugary sodas and fruit drinks are bad for heart problems because they are loaded with added sugars and empty calories. High sugar intake can cause weight gain, increase blood sugar levels, and raise triglyceride levels, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.

While diet sodas contain no sugar, some studies have linked artificial sweeteners to metabolic issues and increased cardiovascular risk. It is generally safest to limit diet soda consumption and choose healthier options like water or herbal tea.

Holiday heart syndrome is a term used to describe irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, that can be triggered by heavy alcohol consumption, especially over a weekend or holiday period. This is particularly risky for people with underlying heart conditions.

For individuals with heart problems, the safest option is often to avoid alcohol entirely, or at least limit it significantly. Even moderate alcohol intake can increase blood pressure, interact with medications, and cause arrhythmias.

While a low to moderate intake of plain coffee (generally up to 400 mg of caffeine per day) might be fine for some, excessive amounts can increase heart rate and trigger irregular heart rhythms. It's crucial to consult with your doctor, as individual sensitivity varies.

Sports drinks are designed to replace electrolytes lost during intense, prolonged exercise. However, they often contain added sugars and high levels of sodium. For those with heart conditions, this can lead to fluid retention and increased blood pressure, even without the intense exercise.

100% fruit juice can be consumed in small, occasional quantities (e.g., half a cup). However, it's healthier to eat whole fruits to get the benefit of fiber and avoid the high sugar concentration of juice. Fruit drinks and cocktails, which are high in added sugar, should be avoided entirely.