According to several different studies, even though diet drinks supposedly consist of zero net calories, they can have a lot of negative effects — including weight gain, kidney problems, increased risk of diabetes and increased risk of depression. If you’re a fizzy juice fiend then switching from three normal cokes to three diet cokes would cut sugar intake by around 90g. Here’s another example: In America, in summer, people eat more ice cream. No so fast, your dentist won`t be a fan. At Food For Fitness we’ll show you how you can lose weight without the suffering, punishing fitness regimes or extreme diets! However, it may offer some people a way to reduce their consumption of sugary beverages. Drinking diet soda does not provide any direct health benefits. This article is going to clear the confusion. The other concern with drinking lots of diet soda would be the caffeine. [Related: 11 Ridiculous Myths About Fat Loss]. Coke zero vs Diet coke: Diet coke, launched in 1983, was the Coca-Cola company’s first sugar-free product. Or, people who regularly drink soda may be more likely to eat certain types of food, which may pose health risks. It is sure to get jimmies rustled, get you unfollowed on Facebook and get gym leggings in a twist but is diet coke bad for you? As mentioned above, research now links diet soda consumption (and regular soda consumption too) with higher risk for total mortality and heart disease. This fact, the authors of the study argue, suggests that the soda industry is “manipulating contemporary scientific processes to create controversy and advance their business interests at the expense of the public’s health.”. Back in the 60’s, there was a study that linked aspartame (the sweetener in diet coke) with brain tumours but more recent evidence has proven that this isn’t the case and that there is no link between diet drinks and cancer. The early findings showed a 48% increase in heart attack and stroke risk among daily diet soda drinkers, compared to people who did not drink diet sodas at … To cut down on diet soda, a person needs to understand why they drink soda and then find a viable alternative. [15] There’s about half the caffeine in Diet Coke versus a … Contrary to popular belief, diet soda (defined as calorie free carbonated beverages sweetened with aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame-potassium, or other non-caloric or minimally caloric sweeteners) doesn't inhibit fat loss, or spike insulin levels. Is Diet Coke Bad For Your Health? Diet Soda….is not harmful to health, well-being, or body composition ~ Examine.com. Artificially sweetened beverages (or ASBs, as they are called in some studies) are often suggested as alternatives to regular … And it isn’t even related to caffeine! Artificial…, Proper hydration is essential to overall health. Here's what they said. A review paper in the Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology Journal concluded that: …the studies provide no evidence to support an association between aspartame and cancer in any tissue…..the weight of scientific evidence confirms that, even in amounts many times what people typically consume, aspartame is safe for its intended uses as a sweetener and flavor enhancer….. A post shared by Scott Baptie (@scottbaptie) on Apr 22, 2019 at 2:23am PDT, My buddy said aspartame ingestion produces methanol and formaldehyde.”. Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. The logic applied by some, is that if diet coke can clean coins, it can`t be good for your insides, which seems reasonable. Ice cream does not cause shark attacks, just like Diet Coke doesn’t cause obesity. Pepsi Max or Diet Irn Bru are much better anyway….. More people also get eaten by sharks in America, in summer.. One does not cause the other, ice cream does not cause shark attacks, just like Diet Coke doesn’t cause obesity. What does the evidence say about diet drinks? He is a fat loss coach, speaker and fitness writer with a masters (MSc) degree in Applied Sports Nutrition. An observational study published in February 2019 reported that people who drank diet drinks were more likely to suffer from heart attacks or a stroke. It’s physiologically impossible. Finally, formaldehyde is produced by our bodies every day in amounts thousands of times greater than you would ever get from aspartame. People who like bubbly carbonated drinks can find the same fizzy quality in seltzer water, or carbonated water. However, calories don’t mean … Definitely, though, don't try to take on the presidential amount of 12 Diet Cokes each day — that's well beyond the limit of what's healthy for your body. Coke Zero and other diet sodas are linked to alterations in the gut microbiome and an increased risk of osteoporosis and heart and kidney disease. A drink that contains zero calories cannot cause you to gain weight. This article reviews the research on diet soda and whether it's good or bad for your health. When you’re searching for a drink with a bit of caffeine to give you a boost for the day, you might be tempted to reach for a diet soda, believing it to be a healthier choice than coffee concoctions or other sugary drinks. It isn’t anything mythical or chemical about the diet coke that makes it a good cleaner. But the coming year may be a good time to kick your Diet Coke habit, based on the results of a recent study proclaiming that diet soda is just as bad for you as the regular stuff. Early research suggested that there might be a link between artificial sweeteners and cancer. Plain old fizzy water or soda water does exactly the same thing. Therefore, they may not account for the fact that people who drink soda might have more health issues independent of their beverage choices. Let’s get something straight, weight gain and weight loss is determined by calorie balance (calories in vs calories out): A fundamental principle of nutrition and metabolism is that body weight change is associated with an imbalance between the energy content of food eaten and energy expended by the body to maintain life and to perform physical work” ~ Am J Clin Nutr. ##### Is Diet Soda Bad For You? So we decided to take this debate to the experts. Diet soda may change your brain’s reaction to sweetness Some research suggests that those who drink diet soda have higher activity in the area of the brain associated with the desire to consume foods high in fat and sugar. Diet soda has been claimed to have negative effects on health. Drinking ginger water is a convenient…, © 2004-2020 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Drinking DietCoke versus Coke Zero Sugar is likely equivalent in terms of the impact they may have on health. There is mounting evidence that seemingly proves Diet Coke leads to poor kidney health. A 2012 study suggests that diet soda may change how the brain responds to sweet flavors by affecting dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in pleasure, motivation, and reward. Tomato juice also has 4-6x more methanol than a diet coke too. If weight loss is the goal then swapping from a regular fizzy drink to a diet drink is probably going to be beneficial. What’s more, people who generally have poor diets may also be more likely to drink diet drinks to offset the high amount of calories consumed by making poor food choices. Are diet sodas a safe option with diabetes? Diet Coke and other caffeinated beverages are widely thought to be dehydrating, since caffeine is a mild diuretic — meaning it increases urination. A lot of people equate drinking diet soda to drinking water because they both have zero calories. Diet sodas may also undermine health by changing other habits. Finally, the gastric acid in your stomach is far stronger than any acids found in fizzy juice anyway. This week, we asked dietitians, doctors and epidemiologists: Is diet soda bad for you? On the other hand, there are many man-made chemicals that are totally harmless to us, even when consumed in large quantities. Why something so insignificant as a can of juice can command such hatred and why it’s the cause of many a hot debate is….well, quite frankly, bizarre. With almost everything in common, there are just two distinctions between these drinks. Coke Zero was produced in 2006 for Coca-Cola classic lovers who wanted to reduce sugar intake, as discussed earlier. Diet Coke is also not bad for your health, if once again it is consumed in moderation. If you drink diet soda excessively, you are more likely to develop osteoporosis. Currently available research into diet soda and long-term health risks is insufficient, although there are specific areas where risks are unlikely. Just because something 'contains chemicals' doesn't mean it's automatically unhealthy. The authors of a 2016 analysis noted that 26 studies found no link between soda consumption and worse health outcomes. There are fruits and vegetables that everyone agrees would be classed as ‘natural foods’. Fizzy drinks contain carbonic acid which make them good stain removers. And this is the big question: is it bad or is diet soda actually good for you? Some believe that diet sodas might damage blood vessels or cause chronic inflammation. I’m not necessarily a proponent of New Year’s resolutions, especially going into 2021 when your only resolution should be “survive.” But the coming year may be a good time to kick your Diet Coke habit, based on the results of a recent study proclaiming that diet soda is just as bad for you … The good news is that the dose is so small that you would never be able to eat enough of them for it to be harmful. Discover healthy recipes, weight loss advice, exercise tips, nutrition guides and more. [Related: Toxins, Diet Cokes, Pseudoscience & Fighting The March Of Unreason]. These studies have also shown that the overweight people – who were drinking the diet drinks – had a much higher calorie intake than those who didn’t. Drinking a reasonable amount of diet soda a day, such as a can or two, isn't likely to hurt you. No, because the dosage is insignificant. People who wean themselves off sweetened sodas by drinking diet sodas can significantly reduce their sugar intake. Honestly, it falls into both categories. Despite it being a low or zero calorie beverage, it may still increase the risk of conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Researchers have found links between artificial sweetener consumption and Type 2 diabetes, dementia & other conditions. Studies have shown that carbonated drinks aren’t great for tooth enamel, which is one reason why you may not want to go overboard with the coke zeros. 5 reasons diet soda may be bad for you. If you love Diet Coke or any other diet soda, we might have some bad news for you. There’s the cat out of the bag already. Last medically reviewed on July 31, 2019, Sugary drinks are a known cause of obesity and blood glucose problems, such as diabetes. Diet soda is linked to type II diabetes. Scott is the owner and founder of Food For Fitness. Others insist that diet soda remains a healthful alternative to traditional soda, despite the evidence to the contrary. "As Diet Coke has no calories and no recognised ingredients we know it is a cocktail of chemicals that encourage your body to gain and store weight especially on … In this article, learn about the links between diet soda and health, as well as whether it is more healthful than regular soda. You are more likely to overeat if you consume diet foods more often. It also doesn’t actually explain why diet drinks might be linked to an increased risk. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. After the recent incredible popularity of my infographic showing what may happen to you after one hour of drinking a can of regular coke, I have been requested to do a similar one about diet coke from thousands of new supporters and even the media. It`s up to you what you drink but plain old water is still our favourite! The argument often centres around insulin (a hormone which plays a key role in the regulation of blood glucose levels). D iet soda gives you a sugar rush far stronger than the granulated stuff in a sugar bowl ever could–and for no calories. It is actually needed to make essential compounds, including your DNA. 5. Diet Soda….is not harmful to health, well-being, or body composition ~ Examine.com. Rose water is a liquid made using water and rose…, Cucumber water is helpful for promoting hydration, weight loss, and lower blood pressure. Is drinking ginger water good for health. For example, a person might be drinking diet soda because they have a high body mass index (BMI) and are trying to lose weight. It’s physiologically impossible. Listen to some and they’ll have you running to the hills with fear. Now some studies have shown that people who are overweight or obese drink more sugar-free drinks than people who are a healthy weight. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology Journal, A post shared by Scott Baptie (@scottbaptie). The researchers behind a 2017 study gathered data that indicated a link between diet soda and the risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s simply the carbonic acid. Although overweight people may drink more diet drinks, the diet cokes are unlikely to be the cause of the problem. That diet coke tricks your brain that it’s actually sugar. Ideally, your beverage of choice should be water, but sometimes we crave a little something with a little more flavor, carbonation, or caffeine. So those who drink diet soda seem to alter the brain’s sweet-sensing reward center. However, subsequent research has either found no link or called into question data that initially linked artificial sweeteners to cancer. However, few studies have fully controlled for other risk factors that might lead to chronic health issues, such as being overweight or having a sedentary lifestyle. Before you spit out the diet cola swishing around your mouth right this second, the fact is that the cancer risk from food additives is likely pretty small, Lefferts says. The correlation held even after adjusting for family history, age, BMI, and lifestyle factors. When you drink diet soda every day, you aren't doing your body any favors — especially those kidneys. So far, according to the science, diet cokes aren’t bad for your health. Switching to coffee or tea may be a good alternative as both of these drinks provide several health benefits. Drinking lime water is a great way to keep hydrated, but it may also help in aiding digestion…, Products derived from flowers and herbs have long been used for medicinal and culinary purposes. However, because the study was observational it just looks at associations or links between the participants, rather than directly showing that diet drinks increase heart attacks or strokes. For some people, soda offers a quick caffeine jolt. Guess what? Researchers do not know exactly why diet sodas may increase the risk of disease. How can this be? However, a research review found this diuretic effect only occurred with doses of 250 to 300 mg of caffeine, and the increased urination did not occur in regular consumers of caffeinated beverages. Frequently drinking diet soda might cause a person to crave more sweets, including both sweet snacks and more soda. Is Diet Soda Bad for You? Consequently, many people see diet soda as a better choice. Caffeine in moderate amounts is fine, but if you go overboard you could increase your anxiety and interfere with your sleep. However, those studies had received funding from companies in the soda industry. Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below. Does it get the thumbs up? But over time, the paradox of thinking that diet soda is healthier than regular soda can take a toll on your health in several ways. Yes, that’s formaldehyde as in the stuff used to preserve dead bodies. So far, so good for the coke zero and diet coke fans. So, while there are plenty of reasons to avoid diet soda, cancer risk may not be among them. Research has linked a wide range of health risks to drinking diet soda. It Affects Your Bones. Whether a chemical is natural or man-made doesn’t tell you anything about how toxic it is. Here’s another example of why dosage is key and just because something “contains chemicals” doesn’t mean it’s automatically unhealthy. All rights reserved. Again, if you look at the evidence, this doesn’t happen in healthy humans or even in diabetic patients. However, more research is needed. Other cleaning-related uses for diet coke are that it is good to clean rusted battery terminals, clean toilets and polish cars. However, numerous studies have found a … Yes, diet soda has zero calories and is an inexpensive and tasty way to get your caffeine fix. Instead of focusing on the question of whether diet soda is bad for you, consider your overall diet and lifestyle. Sometimes artificially sweetened foods, although unlikely to serve any nutritional benefit can eliminate sugar cravings. Also, just to clarify, before anyone drops the usual “this is sponsored by Diet Coke” no it isn’t. Probably not that bad at all. A drink that contains zero calories cannot cause you to gain weight. But…. There are no studies that indicate any long-term health risks from drinking diet soda. Some analysts, especially those with ties to the soda industry, insist that there is no compelling evidence directly linking soda to poor health. Many studies have linked diet soda consumption to worse health outcomes. Diet Coke Exposed: What Happens One Hour After Drinking Diet Coke, Coke Zero Or Any Other Similar Diet Soda. Is Diet Soda Bad for You? The artificial sweeteners and other chemicals currently used in diet soda are safe for most people, and there's no credible evidence that these ingredients cause cancer. Many people choose diet soda so that they can enjoy a sweet and bubbly drink without consuming hundreds of calories or getting a hefty dose of sugar. Diet drinks aren’t ‘healthy’ but there isn’t really anything particularly ‘unhealthy’ about moderate consumption of them either. Using diet soda as a low-calorie cocktail mixer has the dangerous effect of getting you drunk faster than sugar-sweetened beverages, according to research from Northern Kentucky University. If you can cut it down to once a week, even better. Many people do not know that both diet and regular sodas can be extremely bad for their bone health. If you drink a reasonable amount of diet soda — or as the Mayo Clinic puts it, "a can or two a day" — it's unlikely you'll experience major negative health effects. Lastly, the British Heart Foundation are still are happy with the safety of sweeteners and recommend them over a full sugar drinks every time. Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT. A 2015 BMJ review of studies also found that a single daily serving of diet soda boosted the chance of diabetes by 8%. If the appeal of soda is in its sweetness, a person can try indulging in natural foods instead. A growing body of evidence suggests that diet soda consumption correlates with an increased risk of a wide range of medical conditions, notably: Many studies of people who drink soda have been extensive and spanned many years. This is because there are many who would make the claim that the non-nutritive sweetener aspartame is a chemical compound which has SEVERE negative effects on the health of people who drink it. Just because something has chemicals in it does not mean that it is harmful. Milk can offer some sweetness without the extra sugar. The air you breathe has chemicals in it, then you use that oxygen and that forms chemicals within you. There’s lots of research linking diet soda drinking to all sorts of health troubles, even death. The best choice is unsweetened coffee or tea. 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