Researchers in Galway have found frequent consumption of fizzy drinks or concentrated fruit juices can increase the risk of stroke.
Their study shows both sugar-sweetened fizzy drinks, and those with artificial sweeteners, were linked with a 22% increased risk of stroke.
Fruit juices made from concentrates with added sugars were linked with a 37% increase in chance of stroke, due to bleeding.
With both types of beverages, the risk increases significantly in line with the volume consumed.
In contrast, drinking more than seven cups of water a day was linked with reduced odds of stroke caused by a clot.
The results form one part of an ongoing study into the topic, which is being co-led by the University of Galway.
Professor Andrew Smyth, who led the research, said he would encourage people to avoid or minimise their consumption of these drinks, and switch to water instead.
He said while freshly squeezed fruit juices were likely to bring health benefits, those made with concentrates often had lots of added sugars and preservatives.
Stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut-off, damaging brain cells. The condition can be experienced due to a blood clot or as a result of a bleed into brain tissue.
The INTERSTROKE research involves almost 27,000 people in 27 countries. Half of those participating have experienced a stroke.
The findings also present information on the impact of drinking tea and coffee, when it comes to stroke risk.
That aspect of the study shows that drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can increase the chance of stroke by 37%. Drinking the same volume of black tea can lower risk by 29%.
Drinking 3-4 cups of green tea was found to lower the chance by 27%.
However, the study cautions that adding milk may reduce or block the beneficial effects of antioxidants that can be found in tea. The reduced chance of stroke was lost for those who added milk to their cuppa.
The Executive Dean of College of Medicine at the University of Galway, Professor Martin O'Donnell, is the INTERSTROKE study co-lead.
He said healthy lifestyle choices in diet and physical activity could play an important preventative role.
In that respect, he said the study provided useful information on what constituted best choices, in relation to daily intakes of different beverages.
The international study has examined a range of risk factors in recent years and continues to gather data in an effort to shed further light on the best ways to reduce the incidence of stroke related impact.
Stroke is described as "the most common cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death worldwide", most of which occurs in low-income countries.
