Are You A Diet Soda Drinker? Here Are 9 Reasons Why You Should Quit Put Down Your Drink Right Now

Apr 10, 2018 by apost team

I don’t like to drink regular soda. I always drink diet soda, as I thought it was much better and less sweet than regular soda. I also thought it was healthier.

You may be consuming less sugar when you drink diet soda, but there are still many reasons it could be affecting your overall health. After I read about them, I made the switch to tea and water. 

1. Weight Gain

You may be consuming less sugar, but artificial sweeteners come with their own risks. According to Brooke Alpert, RD, drinking soda with artificial sweeteners can have the same effect as sugar on your body. It can trigger insulin, sending the body into fat storage mode, which ultimately leads to weight gain. 

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2. Heart Issues

Consuming diet soda on a regular basis may also lead to a higher risk of heart failure, mostly because of the artificial sweeteners mentioned before.

A study performed in Sweden tracked 42,000 men over a 12-year period and found that those who consumed two or more diet sodas every day increased their chance of developing heart failure by 23%. Of those men, 509 of them died from the disease. 

3. Kidney Problems

Studies on women show that drinking diet soda significantly increases the risk of kidney problems.

Dr. Julie Lin, a co-author of this study, stated that the artificial sweeteners and higher sodium content of diet sodas greatly increase the risk of problems with the kidneys.

4. Mood Swings

Artificial sweeteners have been shown to connect to a higher risk of depression, according to the American Academy of Neurology. 

Consuming diet soda on a regular basis has been linked with a 30% higher chance of that individual developing depression. Cutting down or replacing diet sodas completely with healthier alternatives can help lower the risk of depression. 

5. Diabetes Risk

Many consumers think that no sugar = healthy. But according to a study by the University of Minnesota, one diet soda per day increases the risk of metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes by a whopping 36%.

6. Headaches

Many people believe that caffeine causes headaches when it is really the aspartame that is the culprit. Through studies and anecdotal evidence it has been found that artificial sweeteners are linked to repeat headaches in a lot of patients.

According to dietician Cassie Bjork, several of her patients were able to pinpoint their use of diet soda to their migraines. 

7. No Nutrition

While drinking diet soda doesn’t add any calories to your daily intake, the aspartame in the beverage can wreak havoc in many other ways. 

You need water to be healthy and it is a much better option than diet soda. If you are looking for that fizz that soda gives you, check out the many different sparkling drinks of water available. You’ll find one that you like for sure!

8. Bad Teeth

A study in the General Dentistry journal compared the mouth of a methamphetamine user and a cocaine user to the mouth of a habitual diet soda drinker. The study showed that they all experienced the same level of tooth decay. 

This is because of all the citric acid found in the sodas. Again, water is just so much better for you!
 

9. Alcohol Consequences

Many people mix diet soda with their alcohol for a lower-calorie treat. However, this can make you get drunk much faster! Artificial sweeteners are absorbed by our bodies quicker than sugar. You’ll end up with a higher blood-alcohol concentration faster.

Do you need to quench your thirst? Make sure to do so with water first. You’ll stay hydrated and feel better overall! You’ll also be lowering your risk of many different issues when you turn down the diet soda!

Are you ready to just say no to diet soda for good? Let us know what you think about the dangers of diet soda after reading this article!

 

*Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!*