Soda May Raise Stroke Risk

Previously, a number of studies suggest that the consumption of sugar-sweetened soda associates with an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease.  Adam M Bernstein, from the Cleveland Clinic (Ohio, USA), and colleagues analyzed soda consumption among 43,371 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study between 1986 and 2008, and 84,085 women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study between 1980 and 2008. During that time, 2,938 strokes were documented in women while 1,416 strokes were documented in men.  The researchers found that found that a greater consumption of sugar-sweetened and low-calorie sodas associated with a higher risk of stroke. In addition, study findings show that men and women who consumed more than one serving of sugar-sweetened soda per day had higher rates of high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol and lower physical activity rates.  Conversely, consumption of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee associated with a lower risk.  Writing that: “Greater consumption of sugar-sweetened and low-calorie sodas was associated with a significantly higher risk of stroke,” the study authors submit that: “This risk may be reduced by substituting alternative beverages for soda.”