New York Cardiologist Warns Against Four Popular Drinks That Could Harm Your Heart

If one of your favorite go-to drinks is on this list, a doctor’s advice might make you think twice about it.

Most of us know that sugary foods and drinks aren't exactly good for our health. Even though they might boost our mood, they come with serious downsides when consumed regularly.

Research has consistently shown that drinking a lot of sugary beverages could be a big factor behind rising obesity rates in the U.S. and beyond. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists sugary drinks as one of the biggest sources of added sugars in the American diet.

While moderation is often the key, cardiologist Dr. Evan Levine from Scarsdale, New York, says some drinks are best avoided altogether if heart health is a priority.

Dr. Levine, who shares health advice with his followers on TikTok under the handle @drevanlevine, recently posted a video listing what he calls the top 10 'most toxic drinks' for your heart. It's not exactly comforting, especially if you're a fan of any of them.

He’s now focused in on what he believes are the top four worst offenders, and yes, even one of his own former favorites made the list.

The doc said most of the risk comes down to the sugar content in drinks Getty Images

Soda

In a chat with the NY Post, Dr. Levine pointed out that soda is among the drinks he considers most harmful to our health.

"Lets be simple here: a can of soda has 10 teaspoons of sugar in it or the equivalent amount of corn syrup," he explained, warning that these sugary drinks can lead to higher triglycerides, added weight, blood sugar spikes, and a greater chance of diabetes — all of which strain the heart.

To help people visualize just how sugary soda is, he said it’s like drinking about 1/5 of a cup of straight corn syrup each time you open a can.

Soda made it to the top four worst-of-the-worst Getty Images

"It's garbage," he said bluntly in one of his widely viewed TikTok clips.

Frappuccino

Even Dr. Levine’s former favorite drink ended up on his own no-go list, with him admitting that a grande iced frappuccino used to be his top pick — until he learned more about its effects.

"I actually got a high off this stuff and then crashed within two hours," he explained, breaking down how many of these sweet iced coffee drinks are loaded with about 100mg of caffeine and a staggering 51 grams of sugar — that’s roughly 13 teaspoons in just one drink.

He continued: "[I]t's potentially dangerous stress on the heart for anyone with heart disease to drink these concoctions of caffeine and sugar and a perfect storm to induce palpitations."

A frappe isn't doing us any favors Getty Images

Alcohol

When it comes to alcohol, Dr. Levine said it may be okay in moderation — meaning one drink or less per day for people without heart conditions.

But he also tackled the common belief that a few glasses of wine each day might be good for you, cautioning that for people with existing heart issues or anyone drinking more than the recommended amount, the risk goes up.

"There's nothing heart healthy here and all those studies — most sponsored by the alcohol or wine industry — were likely flawed observational studies, with an association with better outcome but not causation," he explained. "Simply put: people who drank a glass of wine may have been more athletic or had some other unaccounted benefit."

He debunked the theory about a glass a wine a day being good for us Getty Images

The real concern, he noted, is that alcohol can raise blood pressure, bump up triglyceride levels, trigger irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation, and in large quantities, it can directly damage the heart muscle — a condition known as alcohol cardiomyopathy.

This serious heart issue, caused by long-term heavy drinking, can be fatal if not addressed.

"Alcohol is a no-no," he shared on TikTok.

Energy drinks

Dr. Levine also added energy drinks to his top four most harmful beverages, pointing to the intense mix of caffeine and sugar they contain.

"Drinks like Red Bull have about 1.5 times the caffeine as coffee but also contain almost eight teaspoons or more of sugar — or worse, corn syrup," he noted. "The Monster energy drink has almost 15 teaspoons of it."

Energy drinks are packed with sugar too Getty Images

Other toxic beverages

Beyond his top four, Dr. Levine said there are still other drinks worth limiting. Diet sodas, for instance, made the list due to sweeteners like xylitol or erythritol, which have been linked to higher risks of heart attack and stroke in recent trials.

He also warned about lemonade and orange juice because of the added sugar content found in many brands, as well as milk with more than one percent fat and flavored coffee creamers.

One creamer in particular, Coffee Mate, got called out for containing corn syrup — which he labeled as something straight out of a cartoon: a 'Homer Simpson toxic drink.'

As a healthier option, Dr. Levine recommended switching to plant-based milks that don’t have added sugars. He wrapped up with one final piece of advice: "Water, water, water is the best, least expensive. One carbonated water with nothing added, that's fine too."