Drinking too much coffee and soda is associated with increased risk

• Drinking too much carbonated drinks, fruit juices/beverages, and coffee may increase your risk of stroke and bleeding in the brain, according to newly published research.
• Researchers found that drinking four cups of coffee a day increased the risk of stroke, but drinking less coffee did not increase the risk of stroke.
• Researchers say tea generally prevents stroke, although this is not the case in South Asia.
• These conclusions were drawn from data representing a large number of participants from 32 countries.

The drinks many of us drink in our daily lives can increase the risk of primary infection. ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), according to two new analyzes by an international team of researchers.

Analysis suggests that carbonated beverages, fruit juices, fruit drinks, and more than four cups of coffee per day significantly increase the risk of stroke and ICH.

The data that formed the basis of the analysis were large-scale, international data. interstroke The results were first published in 2016. The study involved 26,950 people from 32 countries. The current analysis of INTERSTROKE data was conducted jointly by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, and the University of Galway in Ireland.

The new analysis found that the risks associated with beverages varied to some extent depending on geographic location and population.

According to the analysis:

• Sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages and artificially sweetened carbonated beverages, such as soda, were associated with a 22% increased chance of first stroke or ICH. This association was strongest in Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Europe, the Middle East, and South America.
• Fruit juices and fruit drinks increase the risk of ICH by 37%, with women at higher risk than men. This risk triples if you consume two such drinks a day. Researchers suggest this may be because sugar and other ingredients added to fruit-based drinks overwhelm their health properties.
• Drinking four or more cups of coffee a day increases your chance of having your first stroke by 37%.

Moderate daily coffee intake (less than 4 cups) was not associated with increased risk of stroke.

A new analysis found that tea was effective in preventing stroke in South America and China, but was associated with symptoms such as: higher Probability of stroke in South Asia.

Researchers also found that drinking more than 7 cups (56 ounces) of water per day reduced the risk of stroke by 18%.

The conclusion that carbonated drinks (mostly soda) may not be healthy is not particularly surprising.

Christopher YeeA board-certified vascular surgeon at Memorial Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, was not involved in the study. He explained the problem with sugary carbonated drinks.

“The high sugar content in regular carbonated drinks can lead to obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, all of which are major risk factors for ischemic stroke and ICH,” Yi said.

“Similarly, added sugars in fruit drinks can cause rapid increases in blood sugar and insulin levels, which can promote inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, increasing the risk of ICH.” said.

Regarding drinks with artificial sweeteners, Dr. Jane Morgan“Artificial sugars can negatively impact blood vessel health and function, and even cause inflammation, which increases the risk of stroke.”

Morgan, a cardiologist and executive director of health and community education at Piedmont Healthcare Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia, was also not involved in the study.

“There are several studies that support this finding,” Morgan said. stroke In 2019, researchers found that people who consumed two or more artificially sweetened beverages a day had a higher risk of stroke than those who consumed fewer or none at all. ”

“As with most things ingested, moderation is safer than excess,” Yee said of drinking coffee.

Although the caffeine in coffee can cause an increase in blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke, coffee also contains beneficial compounds. polyphenol.

Dr. Yi says that polyphenols have “anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants It has properties that can reduce atherosclerosis and improve vascular function. ”

Commenting on the different conclusions reached by different coffee studies, Yi said, “Differences between different studies may be influenced by factors such as population characteristics, coffee preparation methods, and lifestyle confounders.'' '' I hypothesized.

“The coffee data is all over the place,” Morgan said. “The tea data is now more reproducible and consistent. Green tea and black tea in particular have been shown to reduce the risk of stroke.”

In areas where tea has been found to reduce risk, different teas have slightly different effects. Drinking three to four cups of tea a day, such as Earl Gray or breakfast tea, lowered the risk of stroke by 29%. Drinking the same number of green teas lowered the risk by 27%.

“This effect is thought to be due to the high amount of antioxidants found in tea. Catechin and epicatechin reduce inflammation within blood vessels and reduce oxidative damage that increases the risk of stroke.” explained Morgan.

“Tea is also associated with lower blood pressure and improved endothelial function in blood vessels, thereby reducing the risk of stroke,” Morgan said.

The data also suggested that adding milk to tea reduced its beneficial effects on stroke, probably by inhibiting its antioxidant effects.

Morgan explained the role of water in reducing dehydration, a risk factor for serious stroke.

“Dehydration makes your blood thicker and more likely to clot. Also, thinner blood allows it to flow more easily to all areas of your body, including your brain, protecting you from blood clots and strokes. Your body tries to regulate blood pressure. “Dehydration can also lead to high blood pressure,” Morgan added. “High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for stroke. Good blood volume is essential to regulate blood pressure,” Morgan said.