Many people would choose diet soda in order to lower the intake of calories and lose weight. But will diet soda cause less damage to your organism? According to a Purdue researcher, people should avoid diet beverages like regular sugar-sweetened ones.
A behavioral neuroscientist and professor of psychological sciences, Susan E. Swithers, points out that there should be more warnings that limit the intake of all types of sweeteners, both calorie, and no-calorie ones.
Dr. Susan has reviewed numerous studies to find out whether diet soda is bad for people’s health. Her findings were that almost 30% of adults and 15% of children in America consume artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin.
Also, the public health sector tries to find solutions for the increased rate of chronic diseases and obesity. So, the food industry, which promotes such products is at risk to lose a lot of money and business. The government wants to tax and limit the consumption and availability of beverages, but soft drinks are not included in these measures since they are regarded as healthy.
Swithers says that it is important for the public to realize what the science points out in order to make the right health decisions.
The artificial sweeteners confuse the body with the sweet taste without the accompanying calories. People usually overeat and then drink diet soda. The researchers point out that people who consume artificial sweeteners were prone to develop metabolic syndrome.
Is Diet Soda Bad for You?
Diet soda has been connected to numerous health problems, such as:
1. Kidney Damage
According to the researchers, from Harvard, claim that regular consumption of diet soda can cause a 30% greater risk of kidney damage. This includes people who consumed diet soda for more than 20 years.
2. Depression
More than 4 cans of diet soda every day can cause a 30% greater risk of depression. Even four cups of coffee can be more beneficial and reduce the risk of depression by 10%.
3. Cardiovascular Disease
The researcher from the Universities of Columbia and Miami followed more than 2,000 people for 10 years and discovered that those who were drinking diet soda were prone to heart attack and stroke than those who do not. They were also at risk to die from cardiovascular disease.
This risk was the same even when the participants adjusted to sodium intake, weight, smoking, high cholesterol, and many other factors.
4. Type II Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
According to a study from 2009, published in the journal Diabetes Care, diet soda can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome by 36% and 67% of type II diabetes.
The artificial sweeteners can interfere with the gut-brain connection. This can further cause metabolic derangements. The scientists from the Weizmann University in Israel have found that diet soda changes the gut microbes thus increasing the risk of metabolic diseases.
The researchers have conducted an experiment where the mice were fed with zero-calorie sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose they developed glucose intolerance.
5. Less Protected Brain
Aspartame is the most common artificial sweetener in diet sodas that weakens the antioxidant system of the brain. Long-term consumption of this artificial sweetener leads to an imbalance of the antioxidant status in the brain through the glutathione-dependent system.
It can also lead to:
- Anxiety;
- Depression;
- Headaches and migraines;
- Fatigue;
- Chemical sensitivities;
- Weight gain;
- Short term memory loss;
- Hearing loss;
- Chronic fatigue syndrome;
- Multiple sclerosis;
- Brain tumors;
- Fibromyalgia;
- Birth defects;
- Epilepsy;
- Lymphoma;
- Alzheimer’s disease;
- Arthritis;
- Diabetes;
- Parkinson’s disease;
- ADHD.
6. Compromised Lungs
Consumption of diet soda increases the risk of COPD symptoms and asthma. The more soda someone drinks, the higher the risk.
An Australian study discovered that 13,3% of the participants who suffered from asthma and 15,6% who suffered from COPD drank more than 2 cups of soda every day.
Conclusion:
Diet soda is definitely bad for your health! Also, diet soda:
- Is not a healthier alternative in relation to sugar-sweetened soda;
- It does not stimulate weight loss;
- It can cause heart disease, metabolic disease, weight gain, and many other problems;
- Instead of drinking diet soda, try a much healthier alternative: Kombucha.
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