I love diet soda. I went through a time where I could drink it all day, every day (I didnt of course, but I sure wanted to). However, there are some truly terrifying consequences to drinking the seemingly harmless beverage.
Although it may seem like a healthy alternative to the real stuff, diet soda is actually pretty terrible for you. Here are five things that it might be doing to you right now:
1. Its causing you to gain weight
Although diet soda doesnt have any calories, your body doesnt know what to do with the artificial sweeteners, so it automatically stores it as fat. You also trick yourself into thinking you can eat more since youre beverage doesnt have any calories.
In a study done by the University of Texas, researchers found that over the course of about a decade, diet soda drinkers had a 70% greater increase in waist circumference compared with non-drinkers. And get this: participants who slurped down two or more sodas a day experienced a 500% greater increase. Your diet soda isn't doing your waistline any favors.
2. It could be the thing keeping you from getting pregnant
BPA, or bisphenol A, is proven to cause lower sperm count in men and lower quality of eggs in women. This chemical can be found on many aluminum cans, including the can your favorite diet soda drink comes in.
Due to hormone disruption, BPA is also linked to higher risks of problems with fetal development. To avoid these complications, stick to BPA-free products and stay away from those soda cans.
3. Its destroying your teeth
We all know that sugar can rot your teeth, but acidic beverages can be just as harmful to your dental health. Diet soda is highly acidic, and drinking it can cause your teeth to decay. Stick to drinking beverages with low acidity, such as milk and water to avoid going to the dentist more than you have to.
4. Its associated with type-2 diabetes
Jennifer Nettleton, PhD, conducted a study in 2009 on the effects of diet soda. The study found that drinking at least one diet soda a day was associated with a 67% greater risk for type-2 diabetes compared to people who rarely drank it.
5. It can correlate with a higher risk of stroke or dementia
In a very recent study, correlation was found between diet soda and strokes and dementia. While the study isnt proven yet, there is evidence that it might become a serious concern.
According to The Washington Post, The study found that those who reported consuming at least one artificially sweetened drink a day, compared to less than one a week, were 2.96 times as likely to have an ischemic stroke, caused by blood vessel blockage, and 2.89 times as likely to be diagnosed with dementia due to Alzheimers disease.
What do you think? Are you going to kick your diet soda habit or is the indulgence worth the risk? Ultimately, you can make the decision, but its good to know the risks so you can live the healthiest life possible.
Although it may seem like a healthy alternative to the real stuff, diet soda is actually pretty terrible for you. Here are five things that it might be doing to you right now:
1. Its causing you to gain weight
Although diet soda doesnt have any calories, your body doesnt know what to do with the artificial sweeteners, so it automatically stores it as fat. You also trick yourself into thinking you can eat more since youre beverage doesnt have any calories.
In a study done by the University of Texas, researchers found that over the course of about a decade, diet soda drinkers had a 70% greater increase in waist circumference compared with non-drinkers. And get this: participants who slurped down two or more sodas a day experienced a 500% greater increase. Your diet soda isn't doing your waistline any favors.
2. It could be the thing keeping you from getting pregnant
BPA, or bisphenol A, is proven to cause lower sperm count in men and lower quality of eggs in women. This chemical can be found on many aluminum cans, including the can your favorite diet soda drink comes in.
Due to hormone disruption, BPA is also linked to higher risks of problems with fetal development. To avoid these complications, stick to BPA-free products and stay away from those soda cans.
3. Its destroying your teeth
We all know that sugar can rot your teeth, but acidic beverages can be just as harmful to your dental health. Diet soda is highly acidic, and drinking it can cause your teeth to decay. Stick to drinking beverages with low acidity, such as milk and water to avoid going to the dentist more than you have to.
4. Its associated with type-2 diabetes
Jennifer Nettleton, PhD, conducted a study in 2009 on the effects of diet soda. The study found that drinking at least one diet soda a day was associated with a 67% greater risk for type-2 diabetes compared to people who rarely drank it.
5. It can correlate with a higher risk of stroke or dementia
In a very recent study, correlation was found between diet soda and strokes and dementia. While the study isnt proven yet, there is evidence that it might become a serious concern.
According to The Washington Post, The study found that those who reported consuming at least one artificially sweetened drink a day, compared to less than one a week, were 2.96 times as likely to have an ischemic stroke, caused by blood vessel blockage, and 2.89 times as likely to be diagnosed with dementia due to Alzheimers disease.
What do you think? Are you going to kick your diet soda habit or is the indulgence worth the risk? Ultimately, you can make the decision, but its good to know the risks so you can live the healthiest life possible.
