Most people reach for a diet soda in an effort to reduce their sugar intake, as well as prevent weight gain on their waistline. As they have increased in popularity, diet sodas have been considered a healthier alternative than a sugar-based soda; however, new research shows that ‘diet’ drinks may not be as healthy as most people assume. Between the unnatural ingredients to the harmful effects on the body, there are a few reasons to skip diet sodas or at least reduce consumption.
1. Diet Sodas Can Increase Disease Risk
Those who consume higher amounts of diet soda are more prone to suffering from a stroke or heart disease, as the artificial sweetener confuses the body when digested. Aspartame has also been linked to brain tumors, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, lymphoma, and diabetes. Some diet sodas are also known to contain the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A, which increases the risk of heart disease and reproductive issues.
2. Diet Sodas Can Slow The Metabolism
In recent studies, diet soda has been shown to cause an individual’s metabolism to slow down, ultimately leading to weight gain as the individual consumes more food but burns fewer calories. Diet sodas have also been shown to increase the risk of metabolic syndrome by 34 percent, which can lead to heart disease over time.
3. Ingredients In Diet Sodas Can Lead To Cell Damage
Few people realize that by drinking diet soda they are likely causing damage to their DNA with each sip. Some diet beverages contain mold inhibitors, which can harm bodily cells and can lead to conditions that include hives, allergies, and asthma if the individual has a reaction to them.
4. Diet Sodas Can Rot Teeth
Although diet soda may not contain any calories or fat, they are generally more acidic than regular soda with a pH of 3.2. A lower pH is known to break down the enamel on the teeth and can cause rotting and cavities. Those who drink at least three sodas a day often have the worst dental health due to a greater amount of decay that occurs. They are also more prone to requiring fillings, having missing teeth and experiencing discoloration.
5. Diet Sodas Can Cause Weight Gain in Various Areas
Artificial sweeteners do exactly what many believe they won’t do by causing weight gain on specific areas of the body. Frequent drinkers of diet soda are more prone to a ‘pot belly’ around the waist. Fat around the waist is an indicator of fat around the vital organs, which can be more dangerous than weight that is carried throughout the body. The artificial sweetener tricks the body into thinking that real sugar is going to be digested, which results in higher amounts of insulin pumping out for an increase in belly fat.
Although consuming diet soda is alluring due to the low calorie count and lack of natural sugar, new research is proving that these beverages may not be any healthier than regular soda. With the strong link to diseases, tooth decay and weight gain, it’s a food product that can wreak havoc on the system over time. Instead, diet soda drinkers should opt for water or natural juices that will are shown to provide numerous benefits to the body.