Following a healthy lifestyle has become top priority for many men and women around the world. They are slowly introducing physical activities in their lives and practicing a healthier diet. However, many of them find it difficult to eliminate soda from their diet.
The only change that they are willing to make is to replace ordinary soda with diet soda. Thousands of men and women make this change every year and they are encouraged by the misleading commercials shared by big companies which claim that diet soda are healthy.
The fact is that their commercials and claims are incorrect. The majority of soda producers add artificial sweetener, known as aspartame in their products as an alternative to sugar. A scientific study published not while ago and conducted by the scientists from the University of Iowa has confirmed that aspartame is related to increased chances of developing heart disease.
The Shocking Truth About Diet Soda
This scientific study which was led by Dr. Ankur Vyas, was among the most detailed studies of this kind. Namely, more than 60.000 adult women were part of it and the study lasted for nine years.
The study which was called Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study discovered that subjects who consumed two or more than two cans of popular diet soda per day had 30% more chances to witness some cardiovascular event like heart attack and 50 % more chances to die of a disease related to their heart health.
According to Dr. Vyas, their study is one of the biggest of this kind and the results they got were similar to the ones performed in the past. If we take a close look at the number of subjects and if we take into consideration the statistics which say that 20% of US adults drink diet beverages every day, we can all agree that these results are definitely important.
All the participants were separated into four main groups by these scientists. The first one had two or more beverages per day, the second between five and seven beverages a week, the third between one and four beverages a week and the last one between zero and three beverages a month.
So, after taking records for nine years, the final results were analyzed. The scientists were stunned by the results.
Namely, congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, heart attack, ischemic stroke, coronary revascularization procedure, cardiovascular fatality and peripheral arterial disease emerged in 8.5% of participants who drank two or more diet beverages per day. The other groups had a slightly lower percentage, but the results were clear.
However, generally speaking, this study has not confirmed the claims that aspartame is so dangerous, at least when it comes to heart issues, but it has shown that women who drink too many diet sodas are usually younger and they are already experiencing problems like high BMI, high blood pressure and tendency to develop diabetes.
The study was very thorough and large, but there was no final conclusion. Dr. Vyas said that the results they’ve got from their study should serve as a basis for other studies because consumption of diet soda might affect the health of millions of people.
A few more scientific research projects were conducted after this large study, looking for answers about the properties of aspartame and its effects on human health. While we are still waiting for the results, most scientists agree that people should stay away from soda drinks or at least lower the amount they consume. In case you want to enjoy the taste of this drink from time to time, it’s better to drink ordinary soda.
Aspartame has been connected to many other health problems and diseases, including:
- Stomach pain
- Seizures
- Aggression
- Headaches
- Hyperactivity
- Alzheimer’s
- Lupus
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Fibromyalgia
- Difficulty managing diabetes
- Personality changes
- ALS
The fact that diet soda is advertised as something healthy by many popular companies tells us a lot about the advertising tactics big companies use. Ignore the commercials and stick to the facts – learn more about the ingredients found in every food or drink you consume.Via Heart Matters
