“This refers to sugary drinks, including fizzy soft drinks, and interestingly, diet fizzy drinks as well,” explained Manuel Arango, vice-president of policy and advocacy at the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Whether your fizzy drink is sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened, both types were linked to a 22 per cent increase in stroke risk. The danger spikes further for those consuming two to three drinks daily. Fruit juice isn’t off the hook either. The study highlighted that many juices, marketed as “fruit juice,” are made from concentrates and contain added sugars and preservatives, negating the usual benefits associated with fresh fruit.