Cardiologists Reveal the Healthiest Drinks for Your Heart and 2 to Avoid

Be mindful about what you drink. It could affect your heart health and risk for cardiovascular disease. Sipping certain beverages adds sugar, chemicals and stimulants to the diet. The liquid calories provide less satiety than food, leading to overindulgence and weight gain. But fill your glass or cup with a healthy beverage and you can provide the body with the healthy hydration it craves. “If you’re well hydrated, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard,” the American Heart Association notes. Heart Health Tip of the Day: Prioritize These Beverages for Cardiovascular Wellness Water and other unsweetened beverages are the “preferred choice for long-term health,” the American College of Cardiology emphasized in its newest dietary guidelines, titled “Food and Health: Nutrition for Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease.” Moderate amounts of coffee and tea, equivalent to two to five standard 8-ounce cups per day, appear to be safe for most people and are associated with a lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases, the authors add. The scientific statement urges people to limit or avoid two types of drinks: alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages, which are “consistently” associated with a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Dr. James Stone, a cardiologist at the South Heart Clinic in Harlingen, Texas, says he only drinks three liquids: water, black coffee and unsweetened tea. “Why? Because if we woke up 800 years ago, there’d be water. If we got tea leaves, we were lucky enough to have unsweet tea; and if we were lucky enough to find a coffee bean, it was black coffee,” Stone tells TODAY.com about his philosophy to stick to a diet that humans were engineered for over the course of centuries. Why It Matters Plain water tops the list of the healthiest drinks, says registered dietitian Natalie Rizzo, nutrition editor for TODAY. It has no calories and perfectly hydrates the body. Coffee and tea also make the list. Both contain caffeine plus polyphenols and other bioactive plant compounds since they come from plants. Drinking coffee and tea is associated with cardiovascular benefits, the American College of Cardiology notes. Just be aware that unfiltered coffee such as French press, boiled, Turkish and espresso raises LDL cholesterol, the type that clogs arteries, the guidelines caution. That’s because it contains cafestol — a cholesterol-raising compound found “abundantly” in coffee beans. A filter catches it, so a filtered brew is considered the healthiest coffee. If you’re a fan of diet drinks, the evidence on the long-term metabolic and cardiovascular effects of low-calorie sugar substitutes is “inconclusive,” the statement notes. Meanwhile, the relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular health “remains controversial,” so alcohol should be limited or avoided, according to the guidelines. How to Get Started Reach for plain water — the perfect beverage for your body’s hydration needs. It can be flat, sparkling or served with a splash of 100% fruit juice added in for a little flavor. Coffee and tea in moderate amounts are also good options, just skip the cream and sugar. Avoid sugary beverages like soda. Higher intake is associated with heart disease risk regardless of physical activity levels and may raise the risk of dying from an obesity-related cancer. When it comes to alcohol, don’t start drinking it “for health reasons,” the guidelines advise; and if you choose to drink, do it in moderation — no more than one drink per day for women, two for men. Stone also advises patients to avoid energy drinks because they contain several stimulants — which can lead to potential heart rhythm issues — plus added sugar. TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.