Previous studies have linked sugary drinks to increased risks of death from a wide range of causes. Now, a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found connections between sweet beverages and a couple of factors that can contribute to cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that drinking a 355-milliliter beverage more than once a day can lower HDL, or good cholesterol levels while increasing the number of triglycerides, a type of fat in the bloodstream.