3 Popular Beverages Men Should Avoid for Better Health

By Dr. David Samadi

When choosing beverages, men often gravitate toward beverage options that promise energy, flavor, or relaxation. Unfortunately, the marketing behind many drinks can obscure their adverse effects on health. What looks like an energy boost or a low-calorie alternative may come with hidden risks.

Here’s a closer look at three commonly consumed beverages that could harm men’s health and the science-backed reasons to limit or avoid them.

Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are heavily marketed as quick fixes for improved focus, stamina, and athletic performance. While they might deliver a short-lived energy boost, their long-term health effects are cause for concern.

• Caffeine Overload: Energy drinks often contain high doses of caffeine, sometimes exceeding 200 mg per serving—equivalent to two cups of coffee. Many also include guarana, a plant with additional caffeine, compounding the total amount. Excess caffeine can lead to rapid heartbeat, arrhythmias, high blood pressure, and, in severe cases, life-threatening heart conditions like a prolonged QT interval.
• Hidden Sugar: Most energy drinks are packed with sugar, a major contributor to weight gain with the possibility of increasing type 2 diabetes risk.
• Emergency Risks: Consuming multiple energy drinks in a short period is linked to emergency room visits due to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, and even seizures.

The Bottom Line: Occasional consumption might be acceptable, but frequent or excessive intake can have serious cardiovascular and metabolic consequences. Choose water or unsweetened beverages like tea to sustain energy naturally.

Soda and Diet Soda

Soda, both regular and diet, remains a go-to beverage for many. However, both options have significant downsides.

Regular Soda

• High Sugar Content: A typical soda contains 150–200 calories from added sugar, offering no nutritional value. Regular consumption can lead to weight gain, increased levels of blood sugar, and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Inflammation and Chronic Disease: Excess sugar intake is associated with systemic inflammation, which can contribute to heart disease, arthritis, and autoimmune conditions.

Diet Soda

• Artificial Sweeteners and Hunger: While generally noncaloric, diet sodas use artificial sweeteners that may confuse the body’s hunger signals, potentially leading to overeating and weight gain.
• Potential Health Risks: Some studies suggest links between diet soda consumption leading to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

The Bottom Line: If you crave a fizzy drink, limit your intake and consider healthier alternatives like sparkling water infused with natural fruit flavors.

Excess Alcohol

Alcohol is widely consumed. In the U.S., over 80% of men aged 12 and up have reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lives. This comes from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). What’s more, men aren’t just more likely to drink than women—they also tend to drink more frequently and in larger amounts. Unfortunately, excessive intake of alcohol poses numerous health risks, both short- and long-term.  

Defining Excessive Drinking

• Binge Drinking: This is defined as consuming at least five or more drinks in a single sitting.
• Heavy Drinking: Consuming at least 15 drinks or more per week.

Health Risks of Excess Alcohol

• Cardiovascular Issues: Alcohol contributes to High blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
• Liver Damage: Chronic drinking can lead to liver disease and pancreatitis.
• Cancer Risk: Alcohol consumption raises the risk of several cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, and colorectal cancers.
• Mental Health and Social Consequences: Depression, anxiety, and strained relationships are often common among those who drink excessively.

The Bottom Line: Moderation is key. For men, moderate drinking means two or fewer alcoholic beverages per day. Regularly exceeding this can harm your physical and mental health and impact those around you.

Key Takeaways

Understanding the risks behind popular beverages is an essential step toward better health. While indulging occasionally is fine, making more mindful choices can significantly impact your long-term well-being. Instead of energy drinks, sodas, or excess alcohol, reach for healthier options like water, herbal teas, or low-sugar beverages to fuel your body and mind.

Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board-certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy.  Dr. Samadi is a medical contributor to NewsMax TV and is also the author of Prostate Cancer, Now What? and The Ultimate MANual, Dr. Samadi’s Guide to Men’s Health and Wellness, available online both on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncolo gy and prostate cancer 911.