A new study from the University of Galway, in collaboration with McMaster University in Canada, has found that frequent consumption of coffee and carbonated drinks is associated with a significantly higher risk of stroke.
This was reported by Kurier.
The study, part of the Interstroke project, analyzed data from around 27,000 people across 27 countries, half of whom had already suffered a stroke.
Increased Risk from Carbonated Drinks and Fruit Juices
The study found a direct link between the consumption of carbonated beverages and an elevated risk of stroke.
Both sugar-sweetened and diet drinks were linked to a 22% higher risk of stroke, with the risk increasing sharply for those who drank two or more of these drinks per day.
Additionally, many fruit juices sold on the market were found to increase stroke risk due to their added sugars and preservatives. These drinks were linked to a 37% increased risk of strokes caused by bleeding in the brain (intracranial hemorrhage), with two servings a day tripling the risk.
The study also highlighted that women were particularly vulnerable to this risk.
Coffee and Tea: Mixed Results
Coffee also came under scrutiny in the study.
Drinking more than four cups of coffee per day was found to increase the risk of stroke by 37%, although no increased risk was observed for lower intakes.
In contrast, tea drinking was associated with a reduced risk of stroke. Specifically, drinking 3 to 4 cups of black tea daily was linked to a 29% lower risk of stroke, while green tea offered a similar 27% reduction.
However, the study noted that adding milk to tea could cancel out the beneficial effects, as it reduces the impact of antioxidants present in tea.
How to Lower Stroke Risk
One of the simplest ways to lower stroke risk, according to the study, is by increasing water intake.
The researchers found that drinking more than seven glasses of water per day was associated with a reduced risk of stroke caused by a blood clot.
