The False Promise of Diet Soda

With summer upon on us, I thought it would be a good time to remind everyone about the false promises of "diet” soda and other "diet drinks". Experts say diet soda is full of chemicals and artificial ingredients that are harmful and can disrupt the balance of microorganisms in our intestines which are necessary for good "gut bacteria" to aid in healthy digestion.

A new eight-year study done by the University of Texas in San Antonio by Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, found that individuals who drink diet soft drinks do not lose weight – and in fact, gain weight.

Fowler said, “What didn’t surprise us was that total soft drink use was linked to overweight and obesity. What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher. There was a 41% increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day. If you offer your body something that tastes like a lot of calories, but it isn’t there, your body is alerted to the possibility that there is something there and it will search for the calories promised but not delivered.”

Helen P Hazuda, Ph.D, Professor and Chief of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio School of Medicine, said, “Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives may be ill advised. They may be free of calories but not consequences.”

Researchers found after following up with study participants 9.5 years later, the waist circumference of diet soda drinkers was 70% greater than those who did not drink diet soda. Study participants who drank two diet sodas a day experienced waist circumference increases that were 500% greater than participants who drank no diet soda.

There are so many studies emerging about bad consequences associated with drinking diet soda. Make a break with diet soda this summer.